Pure Storage FAAA_004 - Pure Storage FlashArray Architect Associate

The customer wants to achieve thelowest RPO (Recovery Point Objective)possible for their data when replicating between aFlashArray//X70R3in production and aFlashArray//C60R3at a secondary site. The best feature to meet this requirement isActiveDR.

Why This Matters:

ActiveDR:

ActiveDR is anasynchronous replicationsolution designed for disaster recovery scenarios. It provides low RPOs, typically in the range ofseconds to minutes, depending on network conditions and workload characteristics.

While it is asynchronous, ActiveDR achieves much lower RPOs compared to traditional async replication methods like snapshot replication.

It also supportsfast failover and failback, ensuring minimal downtime during a disaster recovery event.

Why Not the Other Options?

A. ActiveCluster:

ActiveCluster providessynchronous replicationwith zero RPO and near-zero RTO. However, it requires both sites to be within a low-latency range (typically <10 ms). Since the customer has not specified that the secondary site is within synchronous distance, ActiveCluster is not feasible in this scenario.

C. Async Replication:

Traditional asynchronous replication (e.g., snapshot replication) typically results in higher RPOs compared to ActiveDR. It does not provide the same level of optimization for low RPOs as ActiveDR.

Key Points:

ActiveDR:Provides the lowest RPO possible for asynchronous replication, making it ideal for geographically distant secondary sites.

Network Latency:ActiveDR is designed to work efficiently over longer distances and higher latencies compared to synchronous solutions like ActiveCluster.

Disaster Recovery:Ensures protection against site failures with minimal data loss and downtime.

References:

Pure Storage FlashArray Documentation: "ActiveDR for Disaster Recovery"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Meeting RPO and RTO Requirements with FlashArray"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "Choosing the Right Replication Solution for High Latency"

When a controller generates a hash for an incoming write request and finds that the hash already exists in the hash table, the next step is tocompare the new block to the existing block to confirm they are duplicates.

Why This Matters:

Hash Collision Handling:

Hash functions can sometimes produce the same hash value for different data blocks (a "hash collision"). To ensure data integrity, the system must verify that the new block is identical to the existing block before deduplication occurs.

Data Integrity:

Comparing the blocks ensures that only true duplicates are deduplicated, preventing data corruption or loss due to hash collisions.

Why Not the Other Options?

A. The next incoming block is then hashed to see if it can be deduplicated:

Hashing the next block is unnecessary at this stage. The focus is on verifying whether the current block is a duplicate.

B. Deep level compression is then applied to the newly hashed block:

Compression is a separate process from deduplication and does not occur immediately after hashing.

D. Purity//FA will expand the block to see if it can deduplicate a larger dataset:

Expanding the block is not part of the deduplication process. Deduplication operates on individual blocks, not larger datasets.

Key Points:

Hash Table Lookup:Identifies potential duplicates based on hash values.

Block Comparison:Confirms that the new block matches the existing block to ensure data integrity.

Deduplication:Eliminates redundant data to optimize storage efficiency.

References:

Pure Storage FlashArray Documentation: "Understanding Deduplication in Purity//FA"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Data Reduction Techniques in FlashArray"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "How Deduplication Works in FlashArray"

TheEvergreen//Foreverprogram is Pure Storage's premium subscription offering, providing continuous upgrades and enhancements to ensure customers always have access to the latest technology. In contrast,Evergreen//Foundationis a lower-tier subscription with limited benefits. Here's an analysis of the features:

Correct Features:

A. Controller Upgrades:

Controller upgrades are a key feature of Evergreen//Forever, allowing customers to upgrade their FlashArray controllers non-disruptively to newer generations.

This feature isnot includedin Evergreen//Foundation.

D. Upgrade Always:

"Upgrade Always" ensures that customers can continuously upgrade their hardware and software without additional costs.

This is a hallmark of Evergreen//Forever and isnot availablein Evergreen//Foundation.

Incorrect Features:

B. Pro Deployment:

Pro Deployment services are available across all Evergreen tiers, including Evergreen//Foundation.

Therefore, this is not specific to Evergreen//Forever.

C. Capacity Consolidation:

Capacity consolidation is a general benefit of Pure Storage arrays and is not exclusive to Evergreen//Forever.

It is also available in Evergreen//Foundation.

Final Recommendation:

The correct answers areA. Controller UpgradesandD. Upgrade Always, as these are specific to Evergreen//Forever and not included in Evergreen//Foundation.

References:

Evergreen//Forever Program Overview:

Evergreen//Forever

Explains the benefits and features of Evergreen//Forever.

Evergreen Subscription Tiers Comparison:

Evergreen Tiers

Compares the features of Evergreen//Forever and Evergreen//Foundation.

The healthcare customer already has aFlashArray//X50with35 usable TB freeand anticipates storing15 TB of medical imaging data. Since the system load is currently35%, they canenable FA File on the array as-isto support the new workload.

Why This Matters:

FA File:

FA File Services enables file-based storage (NFS and SMB) on FlashArray, allowing the array to handle both block and file workloads simultaneously.

With 35 TB of free capacity and only 15 TB required for medical imaging, there is sufficient space to accommodate the new workload.

The current system load of 35% indicates that the array has ample headroom to handle the additional workload without requiring upgrades.

Why Not the Other Options?

A. They must first upgrade the controllers to a //X70 and enable FA File:

Upgrading to a //X70 is unnecessary given the available capacity and low system load. The current //X50 is capable of supporting the workload.

C. Medical imaging always belongs on a FlashBlade:

While FlashBlade is ideal for large-scale, high-performance unstructured data workloads, it is not mandatory for this use case. FA File on FlashArray//X50 is sufficient for 15 TB of medical imaging data.

D. They should purchase a FlashArray//C and enable FA File:

Purchasing a new array is unnecessary given the available resources on the existing FlashArray//X50.

Key Points:

FA File:Enables file-based storage on FlashArray without requiring additional hardware.

Capacity and Load:The array has sufficient free space and performance headroom to handle the new workload.

Cost Efficiency:Avoids unnecessary upgrades or purchases, optimizing costs while meeting requirements.

References:

Pure Storage FlashArray Documentation: "FA File Services Overview"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Consolidating Workloads on FlashArray"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "Supporting Multiple Workloads with FlashArray"

The offering thatdiscounts controller upgrades with a purchase of qualifying storage capacityisLove Your Storage.

Why This Matters:

Love Your Storage:

This program is part of Pure Storage's Evergreen//Forever subscription model. It allows customers to upgrade their controllers at a discounted rate when they purchase additional qualifying storage capacity.

The goal is to ensure that customers can modernize their infrastructure without incurring excessive costs, aligning with Pure Storage's commitment to providing flexible and future-proof solutions.

Why Not the Other Options?

B. Right-Size Guarantee:

The Right-Size Guarantee allows customers to trade in existing shelves for higher-capacity ones while only paying for the incremental capacity increase. It does not involve discounts on controller upgrades.

C. Capacity Consolidation:

Capacity Consolidation refers to the ability to consolidate workloads onto fewer arrays or shelves but does not include discounts on controller upgrades.

D. Ever Agile:

Ever Agile is a subscription model that provides flexibility in scaling storage and compute resources but does not specifically discount controller upgrades tied to storage purchases.

Key Points:

Love Your Storage:Discounts controller upgrades when purchasing qualifying storage capacity.

Evergreen Benefits:Ensures customers can modernize their infrastructure cost-effectively.

Future-Proofing:Aligns with Pure Storage's commitment to delivering long-term value.

References:

Pure Storage Evergreen//Forever Documentation: "Understanding Love Your Storage"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Maximizing Value with Evergreen Subscriptions"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "How Love Your Storage Works"

For a customer producing video media content and needing a cost-effective solution to replace their multi-rack HDD-based storage array for video archiving, the best choice isFlashArray//C.

Why This Matters:

FlashArray//Cis designed for capacity-optimized workloads, making it ideal for use cases like video archiving, backups, and large-scale data repositories.

It offers high-density storage with QLC flash technology, which provides a balance of performance and cost-effectiveness for less performance-intensive workloads.

Compared to HDD-based systems, FlashArray//C delivers faster access times, lower latency, and improved reliability, all at a lower cost per terabyte than higher-performance arrays like FlashArray//X or //XL.

Why Not the Other Options?

A. FlashArray//X:

FlashArray//X is optimized for high-performance workloads, such as databases and mission-critical applications. While it offers exceptional performance, it is more expensive and not the most cost-effective solution for video archiving.

B. FlashArray//XL:

FlashArray//XL is designed for extreme-scale workloads requiring massive performance and capacity. It is overkill for video archiving and would significantly increase costs without providing proportional benefits.

Key Points:

FlashArray//C:Designed for capacity-optimized workloads, offering a cost-effective solution for video archiving.

QLC Flash Technology:Provides high density and reliability at a lower cost per terabyte compared to traditional HDDs or higher-performance flash arrays.

Cost Efficiency:Balances performance and cost, making it ideal for large-scale, less performance-intensive workloads like video media archives.

References:

Pure Storage FlashArray//C Documentation: "Use Cases for FlashArray//C"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Optimizing Storage Costs with FlashArray//C"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "Choosing the Right FlashArray Model for Your Workload"

To determine the raw capacity required to meet the customer's needs for 3 years, we need to account for the current workload, data reduction ratio (DRR), growth rate, and headroom.

Step-by-Step Calculation:

Current Logical Workload:

The customer's current workload is50 TB.

Expected Growth Over 3 Years:

The workload grows at a predictable rate of25% per year.

After 3 years, the logical workload will be:

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The customer is looking for a storage system that supports20 TB of file shares,800 TB of workloads, has alow cost per GB, and can utilizeCloudSnapin the future. The best recommendation isFlashArray//C.

Why This Matters:

FlashArray//C:

FlashArray//C is designed forcapacity-optimized workloads, making it ideal for use cases requiring large amounts of storage at a lower cost per GB compared to higher-performance arrays like FlashArray//X.

It supportsQLC flash technology, which provides high density and cost efficiency for less performance-intensive workloads.

CloudSnap is fully supported on FlashArray//C, enabling snapshots to be offloaded to public cloud storage for disaster recovery or archival purposes.

Why Not the Other Options?

A. FlashArray//X:

FlashArray//X is optimized for high-performance workloads, such as databases and mission-critical applications. While it supports CloudSnap, it is more expensive and not the most cost-effective solution for large-scale capacity needs.

C. Cloud Block Store:

Cloud Block Store is a cloud-native block storage solution that runs in public clouds (e.g., AWS, Azure). It does not meet the requirement for on-premises storage with file shares and CloudSnap utilization.

D. FlashBlade//S:

FlashBlade//S is designed for file and object storage but is typically used for high-performance, unstructured data workloads. It is more expensive than FlashArray//C and not necessary for this use case.

Key Points:

FlashArray//C:Provides high-density storage at a low cost per GB, ideal for large-scale workloads.

CloudSnap Support:Enables offloading snapshots to the cloud for disaster recovery or archival purposes.

Cost Efficiency:Balances performance and cost, making it suitable for file shares and large datasets.

References:

Pure Storage FlashArray//C Documentation: "Use Cases for FlashArray//C"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Optimizing Storage Costs with FlashArray//C"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "Choosing the Right FlashArray Model for Your Workload"

To meet the healthcare customer's requirement for the fastest possible array for a highly transactional medical records database,FlashArray//XLis the optimal choice. Here's why:

Analysis of FlashArray Models:

FlashArray//XL:

TheFlashArray//XLis Pure Storage's highest-performance all-flash storage array, designed for mission-critical, high-transaction workloads that demand ultra-low latency and maximum throughput.

It offers the highest IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second), bandwidth, and capacity scaling capabilities in the FlashArray family, making it ideal for workloads like medical records databases that require extreme performance.

With its advanced NVMe architecture and DirectFlash Modules, FlashArray//XL delivers sub-millisecond latency and exceptional performance consistency, which are critical for transactional workloads.

FlashArray//X:

TheFlashArray//Xis a high-performance all-flash array but is positioned below the FlashArray//XL in terms of raw performance and scalability.

While it is suitable for most enterprise workloads, it may not provide the same level of performance as FlashArray//XL for highly transactional databases with demanding I/O requirements.

FlashArray//C:

TheFlashArray//Cis optimized for capacity and cost efficiency rather than raw performance.

It uses QLC NAND flash technology, which is more cost-effective but has lower endurance and performance compared to the TLC NAND used in FlashArray//X and FlashArray//XL.

This makes FlashArray//C unsuitable for highly transactional workloads like a medical records database.

Recommendation:

Given the customer's need for the "fastest possible array" and the highly transactional nature of their workload,FlashArray//XLis the best recommendation. Its ability to deliver consistent, low-latency performance at scale ensures that the medical records database will perform optimally under heavy transactional loads.

References:

FlashArray//XL Product Overview:

Pure Storage FlashArray//XL

Details the performance and use cases for FlashArray//XL.

FlashArray//X Product Overview:

Pure Storage FlashArray//X

Explains the capabilities of FlashArray//X for enterprise workloads.

FlashArray//C Product Overview:

Pure Storage FlashArray//C

Highlights the cost-efficient design of FlashArray//C for capacity-focused workloads.