Dell EMC Dell XtremIO Design Achievement D-XTR-DS-A-24 Exam Practice Test

Answer : B

When designing a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution, it's important to consider the best practices for performance and efficiency.

Option OB, ''Align data on 4 kB boundariesAllocate multiple XtremIO LUNs to each host'', is a recommended best practice for VDI environments12. This is because aligning data on 4 kB boundaries can help to optimize the performance of the storage system12. The XtremIO storage array uses a 4 kB data block size, so aligning data on 4 kB boundaries can help to ensure that data is efficiently stored and retrieved12.

Allocating multiple XtremIO LUNs to each host can also help to distribute the I/O load more evenly across the storage system, which can improve performance12. This is particularly important in VDI environments, where there can be a high level of concurrent I/O activity12.

The other options, while they may be part of the overall process, are not specifically recommended for VDI environments:

Option OA, ''Align data on 8 kB boundariesPut all VDI-related data on one large LUN'', is not recommended because aligning data on 8 kB boundaries does not match the 4 kB data block size used by the XtremIO storage array12. Also, putting all VDI-related data on one large LUN can lead to performance issues due to the high level of concurrent I/O activity in VDI environments12.

Option OC, ''Align data on 4 kB boundariesPut persona and user data on XtremIO LUNs'', is not recommended because persona and user data typically do not require the high performance provided by XtremIO LUNs12.

Option OD, ''Align data on 8 kB boundariesPut the master VM image on an XtremIO LUN'', is not recommended because aligning data on 8 kB boundaries does not match the 4 kB data block size used by the XtremIO storage array12.

Therefore, the verified answer is B. Align data on 4 kB boundariesAllocate multiple XtremIO LUNs to each host, as it provides the most suitable solution for VDI environments according to the Dell XtremIO Design Achievement document12.

Answer : C

XtremIO XVC (XtremIO Virtual Copies) allows for efficient snapshot management and operations, including the refresh of volumes. One of the key features of XVC is that it enables the refresh of a production volume from a snapshot without requiring the volume to be unmounted from the host. This capability is designed to minimize disruption and maintain continuous availability of data to applications during refresh operations. The refresh operation is handled within the XtremIO storage array, and the production volume remains accessible to the host during this process1.

The Dell XtremIO Design Achievement document provides information on the capabilities and features of XtremIO X2 systems, including XVC operations1.

Additional details on XVC refresh operations can be found in the support documentation for the XtremIO Family on Dell's official website2.

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Answer : B

ViPR SRM (Storage Resource Management) is the Dell EMC product that provides a comprehensive topology view from virtual or physical hosts down to the storage array volumes. This tool is designed to help customers manage complex virtualized environments by offering insights into application-to-storage dependencies. ViPR SRM delivers detailed reporting and analytics, which can be used to optimize storage performance and capacity planning1.

The Introduction to XtremIO X2 Storage Array document provides information on the system features and management tools available for XtremIO arrays, which includes details on how ViPR SRM can be used to visualize and manage the storage infrastructure1.

Additional resources on the Dell EMC support site offer documentation and guides on how to effectively use ViPR SRM for storage resource management2.

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Answer : D

The Fill phase in the PoC Toolkit should involve scattering writes across the entire storage system to simulate ordinary use and to ensure that the array is adequately prepared for the real-world workload.

Answer : A

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A Decision Support System (DSS) is a computer-based tool designed to aid individuals and organizations in making informed decisions. It integrates data, models, and analytical tools to solve complex problems and support strategic planning. A DSS is particularly effective in handling large volumes of data and applying sophisticated algorithms to generate insights that guide effective choices1.

A Data Warehouse is an example of a DSS workload because it is a centralized repository for storing large amounts of data from multiple sources. Its primary purpose is to facilitate reporting and analysis1. Data Warehouses are designed to perform queries and analysis on historical data and are an integral part of business intelligence that supports decision-making processes.

A comprehensive explanation of what constitutes a DSS and its applications can be found in various resources, including those that define a Data Warehouse as a key component of DSS1.

The ''Introduction to XtremIO X2 Storage Array'' document by Dell Technologies provides insights into the system features that support DSS workloads like Data Warehouses2.

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Answer : B

In a Dell XtremIO X2-R system, a four X-Brick cluster configuration includes two InfiniBand Switches1. Each InfiniBand Switch in a multi X-Brick system, such as the X2-R, is included to interconnect the X-Bricks within the cluster. While the specific number of ports is not directly stated in the search results, the configuration implies a high number of ports to support the connectivity between multiple X-Bricks. Based on the available information and typical configurations of such systems, it is reasonable to infer that each InfiniBand Switch would have 36 ports to provide the necessary interconnectivity for a four X-Brick cluster.

The XtremIO X2 Specifications document provides details on system configurations and components, including InfiniBand Switches1.

Additional information on InfiniBand Switches and their role in multi X-Brick systems can be found in the XtremIO X2 Specification Sheet2.

Answer : B

For a four X-Brick XtremIO array, the recommended best practice for zoning in a SAN environment with VMware ESXi servers is to have two HBA connections per host, with each host connected to both SAN switches. This configuration allows for redundancy and high availability. The zoning should be set up with a single initiator (the HBA on the host) to multiple targets (the storage controllers' HBA ports) per zone. This ensures that each host has multiple paths to the storage, allowing for failover and load balancing. The maximum number of paths for each device should be 16 to prevent exceeding the path limits and to maintain optimal performance1.

Dell Technologies community discussions on XtremIO Zoning Best Practices provide insights into the recommended zoning configurations for different XtremIO setups1.

The Host Configuration Guide for XtremIO, which can be found on the Dell EMC support site, offers detailed instructions on zoning best practices for XtremIO storage arrays2.

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