Free Pure Storage FlashArray-Implementation-Specialist Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 5

When adding a second DirectFlash Shelf to aFlashArray//XL, the connectivity utilizesPCIe Slot 6(in conjunction with Slot 0).

FlashArray//XL Architecture:The //XL chassis distributes its backend NVMe-oF (100GbE RoCE) connectivity across two dedicated PCIe slots to ensure redundancy and maximum bandwidth. As established in hardware diagrams,Slot 0(lower riser) andSlot 6(upper riser) are the designated slots for the 2-port 100GbE backend cards.

Expansion Logic:

First Shelf:Typically connects to Port 0 of the card in Slot 0 and Port 0 of the card in Slot 6 (providing HA).

Second Shelf:Connects to the remaining ports (Port 1) on thesame cardsin Slot 0 and Slot 6.

Exam Context:In the context of "which slot must be used" for the expansion or specifically highlighting the secondary backend slot distinct from the primary host slots,Slot 6is the correct identifier for the backend expansion capability on the //XL. Options A (Slot 0) is the primary, but C (Slot 6) is often the specific answer required to demonstrate knowledge of the //XL's unique split-riser backend layout compared to legacy arrays.

To correctly configure the proxy settings for Phonehome and Remote Assist on a FlashArray, the Implementation Engineer requires theProtocol prefix (HTTP/HTTPS)and thePort numberin addition to the IP address.

The Purity operating system requires a complete URL structure to establish a connection through a proxy server. A raw IP address like "10.24.18.120" is insufficient because the array does not know which communication protocol to use or which listening port the proxy server is monitoring.

Correct Format:The required input format is typically scheme://host:port. For example, https://10.24.18.120:8080 or http://10.24.18.120:3128.

Why it's critical:Without the port, the connection will likely time out or be rejected. Without the protocol (http vs. https), the handshake may fail. While credentials (username/password) might be required if the proxy enforces authentication, they are optional depending on the customer's network policy. However, the port and protocol arealwaystechnically mandatory to form a valid network socket connection.

The commandpureboot listis the correct tool to verify which Purity version is designated to load upon the next system reboot.

FlashArray controllers maintain two boot partitions (often referred to as banks) for redundancy and upgrade safety. When an upgrade is performed, the new Purity software image is written to the inactive bank.

Verification:Running pureboot list displays the status of both boot banks (e.g., Primary and Secondary) and explicitly flags which version is "Running" and which is set for "Next Boot."

Why it's critical:Just checking the currently running version (using pureversion or purearray list) is insufficient during an upgrade workflow. An engineer must confirm that the boot pointer has successfully switched to the new versionbeforeissuing the reboot command. If pureboot list shows the old version as "Next Boot," a reboot would simply reload the current code, indicating the upgrade installation failed or wasn't finalized.

Establishing a serial console session is a fundamental step for initializing a new FlashArray or troubleshooting boot issues. To successfully communicate with the FlashArray controllers via the DB9 or Micro-USB serial port, the terminal emulator (such as PuTTY or TeraTerm) must be configured with specific parameters.

The verified standard settings for all modern FlashArray controllers are:

Baud Rate:115,200(This is faster than the legacy 9600 standard used on older network gear).

Data Bits:8

Parity:None (N)

Stop Bits:1

Flow Control:Xon/Xoff(Software flow control is preferred over hardware RTS/CTS).

Configuring these settings incorrectly (e.g., wrong baud rate) will result in garbled text ("garbage characters") or a completely blank screen when connecting to the console, preventing the engineer from running the puresetup initialization script.

During complex maintenance procedures like a controller upgrade or replacement (puresetup replace), it is often necessary to verify the physical hardware identity of the chassis to ensure compatibility with the new controllers or software image.

The commandhwconfig --modelis the specific CLI tool used at the engineering/boot level to return the chassis model string (e.g., FA-X50R3 or FA-XL170). This confirms the hardware platform identity.

hwconfig --all would dump a massive amount of verbose configuration data, making it difficult to quickly identify just the model.

pureversion -a displays the version of the Purity operating system software, not the physical hardware model of the chassis.

Therefore, hwconfig --model is the correct and most efficient command for the Implementation Engineer to validate the hardware platform identity during the upgrade workflow.

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While modern FlashArrays (like the XR4 and XL series) primarily use NVMe-oF/RoCE for backend connectivity, specific configurations or legacy support scenarios may still require aSAS HBA(Serial Attached SCSI Host Bus Adapter), for example, when connecting to older SAS-based expansion shelves during a migration or hybrid configuration.

ForR4B revision controllers(a specific hardware revision of the Gen 4 controller), the strict hardware addressing map requires that any SAS HBA be installed inPCIe Slot 1.

Slot 1provides the specific PCIe lane routing and BIOS interrupts required for the legacy SAS controller to be recognized and function without conflicting with the native NVMe fabric.

Installing the card in Slot 0 (typically reserved for RoCE/Ethernet backend) or Slot 4 would likely result in the card being ignored by Purity or causing boot errors due to resource conflict.