Pure Storage Certified FlashArray Implementation Specialist FlashArray-Implementation-Specialist FAIS Exam Questions

Answer : A

During a Hardware Non-Disruptive Upgrade (HWNDU) or an offline controller reimaging process, the Implementation Engineer uses the pureinstall utility via the local KVM console to write a new Purity//FA operating system image onto the hardware.

The FlashArray controller boot drives are designed with an A/B partition structure to ensure safe upgrades and easy rollbacks. When the pureinstall <version>.ppkg command successfully completes its execution, it has merely unpacked and written the new Purity OS onto the inactive, alternate boot partition. It does not automatically switch the live operating system.

To finalize the installation and actually boot the controller into the newly installed Purity version, the Implementation Engineer must manually issue a reboot command (typically by typing sudo reboot or simply reboot at the setup prompt).

Upon rebooting, the controller's BIOS will target the newly updated partition, load the fresh Purity kernel, and initialize the system on the new version. Selecting Option B (rebooting the array) is entirely incorrect, as taking down both controllers simultaneously would cause a complete storage outage, violating the fundamental principles of a non-disruptive upgrade. Logging out (Option C) merely closes the console session but leaves the controller running the old OS partition.

Answer : B

Upon verifying that a hardware upgrade is successfully completed and the system is stable, the command to remove the maintenance suppression is purealert untag --maintenance.

During upgrade activities, engineers often apply a 'maintenance' tag or flag to the alert system to prevent the generation of 'noise' (false positive alerts) that would otherwise be triggered by expected events like controller failovers, link downs, or path fluctuations. This suppression ensures that the customer and Pure Support are not flooded with critical tickets for planned work.

Once the work is done, it is critical to remove this suppression so the array resumes normal monitoring. The purealert command with the untag verb and the specific --maintenance flag is the correct syntax to clear this state. Options A and C use invalid syntax (--cancel or --unset) that is not recognized by the Purity CLI for this specific alert management function. Failing to run this command leaves the array in a state where genuine failures might be masked, violating the 'Always-On' monitoring standard.

Answer : A

On a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 controller equipped with an optional Ethernet Mezzanine (EMEZZ) card, the additional ports are enumerated as ETH6, ETH7, ETH8, and ETH9.

The port numbering logic on these controllers follows a strict sequence:

ETH0 and ETH1: Fixed onboard 1GbE Management ports.

ETH2 and ETH3: Fixed onboard 10/25GbE ports (often used for replication or iSCSI).

ETH4 and ETH5: Reserved or used by the first PCIe slot expansion (if populated with Ethernet).

ETH6 through ETH9: Assigned to the Ethernet Mezzanine (EMEZZ) slot.

The EMEZZ is a specific internal slot distinct from the standard PCIe risers. When populated, the Purity operating system reserves the eth6--eth9 block for these interfaces. Options B and C are incorrect because they describe port ranges that would typically be assigned to PCIe expansion cards in Slot 1 or Slot 2 (e.g., eth10+), or they simply do not align with the hardcoded enumeration logic of the R2/R3 controller architecture. Correct identification of these interfaces is critical for configuring link aggregation (LACP) or assigning iSCSI IPs during the initial setup.

Answer : C

The puresetup initialization script automatically runs a series of network validation tests to ensure the array can reach default gateways, DNS servers, and Pure1. If the management network is not yet live or is air-gapped during the install, these tests will fail, potentially blocking the setup process.

To proceed with the initialization despite the missing network, the Implementation Engineer must append the --skip-management-connectivity-tests flag to the puresetup command.

This flag instructs the script to bypass the ping/DNS lookup checks on the management interface.

It allows the engineer to complete the array initialization (naming, IP assignment) so the array is 'up' and ready for local config, with the understanding that full management connectivity will be established and verified later.

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Answer : A

During a post-installation health check or right before initiating a Hardware Non-Disruptive Upgrade (HWNDU), verifying that frontend host multipathing is functioning correctly is arguably the most critical safety procedure an Implementation Engineer performs. If a host is single-pathed or improperly zoned, failing over a controller could trigger an All-Paths-Down (APD) event.

To validate that host traffic is redundant and healthy, the engineer must execute the purehost monitor --balance command within the Purity CLI.

This powerful diagnostic tool instructs the FlashArray to actively sample incoming read and write SCSI/NVMe commands across all connected host initiators for a brief period (defaulting to a 5-second interval). It calculates the exact distribution of traffic and displays it as a percentage ('I/O Relative to Max') for each initiator-target path. If a host has Round Robin MPIO configured properly, the output will show traffic flowing evenly across all active paths (e.g., all paths hovering near 90-100% relative to the busiest path). If the output reveals that 100% of the I/O is pinned to a single path while others sit at 0%, the engineer immediately knows there is a zoning or host-side MPIO misconfiguration to address.

Answer : B

Pure Storage differentiates its product lines based on the type of NAND flash used, optimizing for either performance or capacity/cost.

FlashArray//X uses TLC (Triple-Level Cell) flash for high performance and endurance. These modules typically have orange tabs.

FlashArray//C and FlashArray//E are designed for high-capacity, capacity-optimized workloads. They utilize QLC (Quad-Level Cell) flash.

QLC flash stores 4 bits per cell, offering higher density at a lower cost per terabyte, but with different endurance characteristics managed by the DirectFlash software. To help engineers and customers physically distinguish these modules, QLC DirectFlash Modules feature gray release tabs on the carrier. Identifying these tabs confirms that the correct media type is being installed into the capacity-oriented //C or //E chassis.

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Answer : C

A FlashArray support case should be opened before starting the installation (Option C).

Proactive Support: Pure Storage advocates for a proactive support model. Opening a case (often categorized as an 'Install' or 'Planned Event' ticket) prior to the engineer arriving onsite or beginning the physical work serves multiple purposes:

Notification: It alerts Pure Support that a new array is about to come online.

Validation: It allows Support to verify the serial number, entitlement, and ensure the array is ready to receive the latest Purity updates or patches immediately upon connection.

Remote Assist: It establishes a placeholder for the 'Health Check' phase. Once the physical install is done, the engineer can immediately reference this existing case number when enabling Remote Assist, allowing a Technical Support Engineer (TSE) to quickly jump in and perform the final validation without the delay of ticket creation and routing.

Waiting until an issue arises (Option A) is reactive, and waiting until completion (Option B) delays the mandatory sign-off process.

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