Nutanix NCP-US-6.10 - Nutanix Certified Professional - Unified Storage (NCP-US) v6.10

When deploying Nutanix Files, the client network requiresone additional IP address than the number of File Server Virtual Machines (FSVMs). Nutanix Files uses a distributed architecture where each FSVM handles file services for clients via protocols like SMB or NFS. The client network is used for client-facing traffic, and it requires one IP address per FSVM plus an additional virtual IP address (VIP) that serves as the primary access point for clients.

According to theNutanix Unified Storage Administration (NUSA)course, “Nutanix Files requires one IP address per FSVM on the client network for client communication, plus one additional VIP that provides a unified endpoint for accessing file shares.” The VIP is load-balanced across the FSVMs, ensuring high availability and seamless client access even if an FSVM fails.

TheNutanix Certified Professional - Unified Storage (NCP-US)study guide further clarifies that “the client network for Nutanix Files must be configured with one IP address for each FSVM and an additional VIP, resulting in a total of N+1 IP addresses, where N is the number of FSVMs.” For example, a deployment with three FSVMs requires four IP addresses: three for the FSVMs and one for the VIP.

The other options are incorrect:

The same number of IP addresses as the number of FSVM nodes: This does not account for the additional VIP required for client access, which is essential for load balancing and failover.

One less IP address as the number of FSVMs: This is not feasible, as each FSVM requires its own IP address, and the VIP adds an additional requirement.

Twice as many IP addresses as the number of FSVMs: This overestimates the IP address needs, as only one additional VIP is required, not double the number of FSVMs.

The NUSA course documentation emphasizes that “the client network VIP simplifies client access to Nutanix Files by providing a single IP address that abstracts the underlying FSVMs, requiring one additional IP address beyond the FSVM count.”