SolarWinds Hybrid-Cloud-Observability-Network-Monitoring - Hybrid Cloud Observability Network Monitoring Exam

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

SolarWinds NTA processes flow data via a dedicated collector component. Devices are configured to export flow records to the NTA collector, which ingests, stores, and analyzes the data.

"NetFlow Traffic Analyzer receives flow data from network devices using the NetFlow Collector service, which processes and stores traffic information for analysis."

No agent is required on target devices, and the collector is the key processing method.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Log Analyzer listens for syslog messages by default on:

TCP port 514 (the standard syslog port)

TCP port 6514 (the default port for syslog over TLS/SSL, i.e., secure syslog)

Port 162 is for SNMP traps, and 1463 is not standard for syslog in SolarWinds.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

If a device studio poller is configured with a static textual value (rather than a dynamic OID), any change in the actual value on the node will not be detected automatically; the poller’s configuration must be manually updated to reflect the new value. OID-based pollers update automatically as values change on the device.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

According to the latest SolarWinds Administrator Guides, integrating Cisco ACI for true Hybrid Cloud Observability involves several coordinated steps:

B. Configure API polling credentials for the APIC cluster under “Settings > All Settings > Manage ACI” in SolarWinds.SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability leverages API-based polling (not only SNMP) to retrieve comprehensive fabric topology, health scores, faults, and logical object inventory (tenants, application profiles, EPGs, etc.). Configuration of API credentials is required to access these features."For deep ACI monitoring, use API credentials under 'Manage ACI'. SNMP alone is insufficient for advanced monitoring, object mapping, or health correlation."

C. Enable NetFlow export from all ACI leaf switches to the SolarWinds collector and import flow definitions in the Platform.NetFlow is essential for capturing east-west and north-south traffic inside the fabric, and SolarWinds uses this flow data for bandwidth analysis and path visualization."SolarWinds recommends enabling NetFlow export on all leafs and importing flow records to gain traffic visibility inside Cisco ACI environments."

D. Map tenants, application profiles, and endpoint groups (EPGs) to custom properties for advanced alerting and reporting.Custom properties in SolarWinds allow mapping logical ACI constructs to alert rules, reports, and dashboards for business-centric monitoring."Map EPGs and application profiles to custom properties for granular alerting and business-aligned dashboards."

Option A is incorrect because the official guide states that API polling (not just SNMP v3 with plugins) is required for automatic APIC object discovery.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

To edit trigger conditions for flow alerts in SolarWinds, the SolarWinds Query Language (SWQL) is required. SWQL is a proprietary subset of SQL designed specifically for the SolarWinds Orion Platform. The documentation specifies:

“Editing advanced alert trigger conditions and custom queries for flow-based alerts requires the use of SWQL, not PowerShell, Python, or standard SQL.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

ICMP polling in SolarWinds only provides basic status (up/down) by sending ping requests to the device. For more detailed statistics such as interface traffic, CPU load, and memory usage, SNMP polling must be enabled. The documentation states:

"ICMP polling provides only basic reachability and response time. To collect detailed statistics such as device health, performance, and interface details, SNMP polling must be configured on the device and enabled in SolarWinds."

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

SolarWinds provides a MIB Browser utility that lets you search and verify whether a specific object ID (OID) exists in the SolarWinds MIB database. By entering the OID in the MIB Browser, you can confirm its presence and also test polling against the device.

The documentation states:

"Use the MIB Browser to search for and verify OIDs in the SolarWinds MIB database. The tool also allows you to test poll the device to ensure the OID is being returned."

If flows are confirmed as reaching the poller but no data appears in the web console, the most common cause is a missing or incorrect source address field in the flow configuration on the sending device. SolarWinds uses the source address to match incoming flows to the correct device record in its database; if this field is missing or misconfigured, the data will not be processed or displayed.

Exact Extract from Official Guide:

“If the source address field is missing or incorrectly configured in the flow-exporting device, the system cannot associate the flow with a monitored device, and no data will appear in the console.”

— (Network Performance Monitor Administrator Guide, “Troubleshooting NetFlow” section)

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

To detect duplex mismatches:

The node must be monitored (i.e., managed in SolarWinds).

The node must be in "up" status, so SNMP data about interface status, speed, and errors can be polled and compared.

Description in MIB (A) is not necessary if the device is already SNMP-capable, and "warning" status (C) is a result, not a requirement.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The Universal Device Poller (UnDP) in SolarWinds allows you to create custom SNMP pollers. Results from UnDPs can be displayed as charts, gauges, or tables on SolarWinds web console views. The administrator guide states:

“Universal Device Pollers (UnDPs) allow you to collect SNMP data not provided natively by SolarWinds. The collected results can be displayed as charts, gauges, or tables, making it easier to visualize the custom metrics.”

Device Studio pollers are templates used to define UnDPs, but it is the UnDP that presents data visually. Hardware health and Network Insight are not custom pollers.