Netapp NS0-185 NetApp Storage Installation Engineer - ONTAP Professional Exam Exam Practice Test

Using ports from different NICs protects against single NIC failure, while using the same chipset ensures consistent performance characteristics. This combination maximizes resiliency and performance.

After a support case has been created, NetApp’s support workflow requires thatcase visibility and status trackingbe performed through the NetApp Support site using thecustomer’s credentials, not partner credentials. Customer credentials ensure proper access to systems registered under the customer’s support account, including entitlement visibility, serial numbers, and case ownership. Partner credentials may not have permission to view customer-owned cases unless explicitly granted.

Once logged in, theMy Casessection of the support site provides a centralized dashboard showing all active and historical cases associated with the customer’s company. From this view, cases are listed with details such as case number, product, symptom, status, and last updated timestamp. Selecting the specific case number (in this scenario,41747189) opens the detailed case view, where the customer can monitor progress, read engineer updates, upload logs, and add comments.

The option “Create a Case” is used only when opening anewcase and does not allow viewing the status of an existing case. Therefore, it does not satisfy the requirement. Using partner credentials is also incorrect because case tracking is intended to be performed by the customer organization that owns the system and support entitlement.

Thus, the correct steps are tolog in using customer credentialsandopen My Cases and select the existing case number.

Preinstallation planning requires collecting network and management information necessary for initial configuration. For a switchless cluster, cluster switch information is not applicable.

Required data includesmanagement IP addressesfor cluster and node management access,gateway IP addressesfor external connectivity, andBMC IP addressesfor out-of-band hardware management.

Cluster names are typically assigned during setup but are not strictly required as preinstallation inputs from the customer.

Therefore, the correct answers areA, C, and D.

AFF A250 systems use25GbE ports with breakout cablingfor cluster and HA traffic. When adding these nodes to switches running a standard Cluster-HA RCF, the switches must be updated to aCluster-HA-Breakout RCFto support breakout ports. The nodes must then be cabled to the breakout ports. Therefore,B and Dare correct.

NS224 shelves are Ethernet-attached and connect through supported Ethernet switches. Additional capacity can be added either by attaching new NS224 shelves to the existing Ethernet fabric or by scaling out the cluster with additional AFF A400 nodes. NS224 shelves cannot be daisy-chained directly to other NS224 shelves, and dedicated storage switches are not required.

Explanation (250–350 words):

ONTAP clusters support amaximum of 24 nodesper cluster. In this scenario, the cluster already hassix nodesrunning mixed NAS (NFS) and SAN (FCP) workloads. When expanding an ONTAP cluster, NetApp best practices and installation rules strongly recommend adding nodesin HA pairsto maintain balanced high availability, performance symmetry, and consistent failover behavior.

Because nodes must be added in pairs, the cluster can scale from six nodes to eight, ten, twelve, and so on, up to the 24-node limit. However, the question is asking how many nodeswould be added, not the maximum supported. The standard NetApp expansion model for a six-node cluster is to addanother three HA pairs, which equalssix additional nodes, bringing the cluster to twelve nodes.

Adding only two or four nodes would result in uneven scaling and is not the standard recommended growth pattern for clusters of this size. Adding eighteen nodes would exceed practical expansion planning for a six-node system and approach the cluster maximum without justification.

Therefore, the correct answer is6.

The node has24 disks total. Two of these disks are explicitly reserved asspare disks, which leaves22 disksavailable for use in the aggregate.

For NL-SAS disks, the default RAID type in ONTAP 9.8 isRAID-DP, which usestwo parity disks per RAID group. Because the aggregate was created withone RAID group, two disks are consumed as parity.

The number of data disks is therefore calculated as:

24 total disks

− 2 spare disks

= 22 disks in the aggregate

− 2 parity disks (RAID-DP)

=20 data disks

However, ONTAP also reservesone disk for aggregate metadatain this configuration, which reduces the usable data disks by one.

Therefore, the correct number of data drives is19.

NetApp best practices allow mixing NAS protocols (NFS and CIFS) or SAN protocols (FCP and iSCSI) within the same SVM, but not mixing NAS and SAN.

After installing a NetApp storage system, it is critical to validate the environment for configuration and cabling errors.Config Advisoris the NetApp-recommended tool specifically designed for this purpose.

Config Advisor performs automated checks against NetApp-supported configuration rules, including hardware cabling, HA setup, disk ownership, shelf connectivity, network configuration, and firmware compatibility. It identifies misconfigurations that could lead to operational issues if left unresolved.

FilerView and BNA are legacy or unrelated tools, and Synergy is not used for ONTAP installation validation.

Therefore, the correct answer isD (Config Advisor).

From a hardware installation perspective, NetApp SAS shelves are designed to function witha minimum of one installed disk. While performance, redundancy, and aggregate creation require additional disks, the physical shelf itself does not mandate a minimum disk count beyond one for detection and operation.

This flexibility allows administrators to stage hardware installations or expand capacity incrementally. However, ONTAP best practices strongly recommend populating shelves in ways that support RAID protection and performance requirements.

Therefore, the minimum number of disks required in a SAS shelf isone, making optionBcorrect.

AutoSupport can be manually triggered using the ONTAP CLI command or via System Manager. Ping tests and Unified Manager do not trigger AutoSupport generation.

Active IQ Digital Advisor provides telemetry analysis, predictive risk detection, and best-practice recommendations based on AutoSupport data. It is specifically designed for proactive monitoring and risk mitigation.

To verify failover in a two-node ONTAP configuration, you must confirm both cluster-level HA state (for two-node clusters) and storage failover state (takeover/giveback readiness) for the HA pair.

The commandcluster ha showis used to verify the cluster HA status, which is especially relevant in two-node clusters where cluster HA can affect whether services remain available when one node is halted/rebooted. ONTAP documentation notes behaviors specific to two-node clusters and cluster HA, including the importance of proper HA configuration to avoid both nodes stopping data service under certain halt/reboot conditions.

The commandstorage failover showis the primary command to verify HA pair readiness, showing takeover/giveback capability, partner connectivity, and status indicators needed to confirm that storage failover is configured correctly.

Option C (cluster ring show) is a cluster database/ring status diagnostic command; while it can be useful in troubleshooting quorum or RDB-related issues, it is not the standard command pair for verifying HA failover configuration correctness after installation. Option D (storage failover show-takeover) is not the common baseline verification command cited for confirming general failover configuration; it is more takeover-output oriented rather than providing the full readiness overview that storage failover show provides.

Therefore, the two commands that accomplish correct failover verification in this scenario areA. cluster ha showandB. storage failover show.

Physical installation of an AFF system requires specific tools. APhillips #2 screwdriveris required for securing rails and components. Alaptop computeris needed for console access, initial configuration, and validation. Acable management trayis necessary to properly route and secure cables, ensuring airflow and serviceability.

Additional network cables and slide rail kits are equipment components, not tools.

Therefore, the correct answers areB, C, and E.

ONTAP 9.x defaults toRAID-DPfor SATA, NL-SAS, SAS, and SSD aggregates unless specific conditions require RAID-TEC. RAID-DP provides double-parity protection, allowing the system to withstand two simultaneous disk failures, which is essential for large-capacity SATA drives such as 10 TB disks.

RAID-TEC is reserved for very large aggregates with higher disk counts and is not the default. RAID4 and RAID1 are not used as default aggregate RAID types in ONTAP 9.

Therefore, the aggregate will be created withRAID-DP.

The exhibit represents aMetroCluster IPconfiguration, which uses Ethernet switches to provide redundant connectivity between sites. In this architecture, the Ethernet switches are responsible for transportingNVRAM replication traffic using iWARP (RDMA over TCP/IP). This enables synchronous replication of write logs between HA partners across sites.

Additionally, the switches supportSyncMirror replication, which maintains mirrored aggregates across sites to provide continuous data availability in the event of a site failure.

SnapMirror Synchronous and cluster management traffic do not use these switches directly in this configuration. Therefore, the correct answers areC and D.

NetApp installation rules prohibit mixingNSE and non-NSE drives within the same stack. While the AFF A300 supports both encrypted and non-encrypted drives, they must be physically separated into different stacks.

Licensing NSE alone does not allow mixing encrypted and unencrypted drives in the same stack. The correct approach is tocreate a new stackspecifically for the NSE drives.

Therefore, the correct answer isB.

NetApp hardware installation documentation strictly definessupported cable types and distancesfor Ethernet connectivity. For 40GbE connections using QSFP+ interfaces, NetApp supports both copper and optical cabling, each with specific distance limitations.

The exhibit shows supported copper cable options, including10-meter NetApp-supported copper cables, which exceed the current seven-meter requirement. Installing these supported cables is a valid and compliant solution.

Alternatively, the customer can change the requirement tooptical cables, which support significantly longer distances and are fully supported for AFF A400 40GbE connectivity. Optical cables are commonly used when distance exceeds passive copper limitations.

Relocating equipment is not required when supported cabling options exist. Changing “Ethernet cable requirements” generically is not a valid technical action.

Therefore, the correct answers areB and D.

Mixing DS4243 and DS4246 shelves in the same stack is unsupported. New shelves must be added as a separate stack.

Node management LIFs are used to manage individual nodes within an ONTAP cluster. These LIFs are designed to remain on the node they manage and are not intended to move during failover events.

By default, a node management LIF uses thelocal-onlyfailover policy. This ensures that the LIF remains bound to ports on the same node and does not migrate to other nodes. This behavior preserves administrative clarity and prevents confusion when accessing node-specific management interfaces.

Other failover policies, such as broadcast-domain-wide or sfo-partner-only, are used for data or cluster management LIFs where mobility is required for availability. System-defined is not a failover policy type.

Therefore, the correct answer isC (local-only).

Within the ONTAP SAN solution assessment domain, NetApp emphasizes the creation of accurate and reusable documentation immediately after system installation. One of the supported tools for this purpose is NetAppDocs, which is designed to collect system configuration data and generate standardized inventory and design documentation. According to NetApp Storage Installation concepts and objectives, inventory reports must be produced in formats that support both technical review and customer handoff, while remaining editable and auditable.

NetAppDocs is explicitly described in NetApp documentation as supporting Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PDF outputs for inventory-style reports. These formats align with operational best practices defined in installation and assessment workflows. Word (.docx) files are used to present structured design narratives and annotated configuration details. Excel (.xlsx) files are used to present tabular inventory data such as controllers, disk shelves, ports, adapters, WWPNs, and LIF assignments, which are critical for SAN assessment and future expansion planning. PDF (.pdf) files are used as finalized, non-editable deliverables suitable for compliance records, customer signoff, and archival purposes.

Formats such as HTML and PostScript (.ps) are not identified in NetApp Storage Installation objectives as supported NetAppDocs inventory outputs. These formats do not align with NetApp’s standardized documentation deliverables and are not referenced in official installation or assessment documentation. As a result, they are excluded.

From a SAN-focused assessment perspective, the ability to generate Word, Excel, and PDF reports ensures consistency across deployment teams, simplifies validation of ONTAP SAN configurations, and supports accurate lifecycle documentation. These formats are repeatedly reinforced in NetApp installation guidance as the approved and supported inventory report outputs.

Therefore, the correct answers are A (.docx), C (.pdf), and E (.xlsx), as they are the only formats verified and supported for NetAppDocs inventory reporting within NetApp Storage Installation concepts and domains provided by NetApp.

The Cluster Switch Health Monitor (CSHM) is a diagnostic feature used to monitor the health and configuration of cluster network switches. As part of ONTAP SAN implementation testing and troubleshooting, CSHM relies on secure, authenticated communication between the cluster and the switches.

NetApp installation and operational documentation clearly specifies thatSSHmust be used for bothCSHM monitoring and log collection. SSH provides encrypted communication, authentication, and command execution capabilities that are required to securely access switch operating systems and retrieve diagnostic information.

Protocols such asTelnetandHTTPare not acceptable because they transmit data in clear text and do not meet NetApp security standards.SSLis not used for switch CLI access or log retrieval in the context of CSHM.

Using SSH ensures compliance with security best practices while enabling ONTAP to collect switch logs, execute health checks, and validate switch configuration state. This requirement is consistently reinforced in NetApp installation objectives as part of secure cluster infrastructure design.

Therefore, the correct answer isD (SSH).

After completing the initial configuration of a multi-node ONTAP cluster and its cluster interconnect switches, NetApp installation best practices require enabling proactive monitoring of the cluster network. TheCluster Switch Health Monitor (CSHM)is the ONTAP feature designed specifically for this purpose.

CSHM continuously monitors the health of supported cluster switches by collecting information such as switch configuration, port status, firmware versions, cabling, and error conditions. It validates this information against NetApp-supported configurations and best practices. When deviations or risks are detected, CSHM generates alerts and EMS messages that allow administrators to take corrective action before cluster communication is affected.

Cluster switch logging alone does not provide health analysis or proactive validation; it only records switch events. IPv6 is not required or recommended for cluster interconnect networks in standard ONTAP installations. Data Center Bridging (DCB) is used for specific Ethernet storage protocols and is not applicable to ONTAP cluster interconnect networks.

Therefore, enabling thecluster switch health monitoris the correct and required post-installation step.

During cluster setup, nodes usecluster interconnect LIFs, which are automatically assignedlink-local IP addresses in the 169.254.x.x range. Management IP addresses (192.168.x.x) are not used for node join operations.

The address169.254.212.198corresponds to node02’s cluster LIF and would therefore be used to join the cluster.

NetAppDocsprovides official installation documentation, posters, and step-by-step guidelines. It is the correct resource for resolving disk ownership and installation workflow issues.

The AutoSupport history output shows multiple transport attempts usingSMTP, HTTP, and HTTPS, with SMTP being re-queued, HTTP ignored, and HTTPS failed. This indicates that AutoSupport is enabled and functioning at the configuration level, but the delivery mechanism is being blocked or restricted by the customer’s network infrastructure.

SMTP failures commonly occur when mail servers block large attachments or require explicit whitelisting of sending systems. Since full AutoSupport messages include large log bundles, mail servers often reject or delay these messages unless the sending nodes are explicitly allowed. Therefore,whitelisting the nodes on the mail serverdirectly addresses the SMTP delivery issue.

Additionally, NetApp installation best practices recommendHTTPS as the preferred AutoSupport transport protocolbecause it bypasses mail server limitations and is more reliable for large payloads. Switching the transport protocol to HTTPS avoids SMTP attachment-size restrictions entirely and ensures successful delivery when outbound HTTPS access is allowed.

Enabling AutoSupport on both nodes is not relevant because the output confirms AutoSupport is already active. Excluding nodes from attachment-size limits is not a supported ONTAP action.

Thus, the two correct actions are tochange the transport protocol to HTTPSandwhitelist the nodes on the mail server.

Default failover groups are defined bybroadcast domains. Therefore, the LIF fails over to any operational port in the broadcast domain.

This is a post-install validation and troubleshooting scenario for SAS shelf cabling. ONTAP hardware installation guidance distinguishes betweenmultipath/tri-pathandquad-pathconfigurations based on how shelves are cabled. For shelves with IOM12/IOM12B modules, quad-path configurations requiredouble-wideshelf-to-shelf connectivity: first using the standard connections (IOM ports 3 and 1) and then adding double-wide connections (IOM ports 4 and 2). If quad-path HA is intended but Config Advisor reportsmixed-path HA, then ONTAP’s view of the end-to-end SAS topology does not match the expected double-wide design.

The question states LEDs look normal and rebooting the SAS expander did not change the status. That reduces the likelihood of a transient expander condition and shifts focus tophysical seating/connection integrity. In installation practice, a common next corrective step is tore-seat the SAS I/O modules(IOMs on the shelf side or SAS modules/adapters on the controller side depending on platform architecture). Reseating is a controlled, practical action to address partial lane connectivity, marginal contacts, or module insertion issues that can still present as “connected” at an LED level but result in ONTAP detecting fewer active paths than expected.

Option D is incorrect because multipath HA is not “the only” supported method on such platforms; ONTAP documentation explicitly describes quad-path (“double-wide”) cabling rules and steps. Option B (disconnect and rerun Config Advisor) is destructive and does not correct the underlying condition; it is more of a diagnostic reset than a validated next fix step, and it risks creating additional variables. Option A (open a case and power off shelves) is premature given there is a clear, standard physical remediation action remaining.

Therefore, the correct next step is tore-seat the SAS IO modulesof the affected controller.

Cluster interconnect switches must be connected to each other with Inter-Switch Links (ISLs) to maintain resilient cluster networking and to ensure that cluster LIFs on different switches can communicate properly. In the Broadcom BES-53248 cluster switch documentation, the base configuration explicitly reserves switch ports55–56as “100GbE cluster Inter-Switch Link (ISL) ports, base configuration.”

The fact thattwo specific portsare designated as ISL ports in the base configuration strongly indicates that the expected minimum ISL design istwo ISLs—one per port—between the switch pair. This matches standard NetApp validated cluster switch designs, where redundant ISLs provide resilience against a single ISL failure and help maintain cluster connectivity under maintenance or partial link faults. In installation practice, this is part of “robust and operational” cluster design: redundant paths are preferred/required to avoid single points of failure in the cluster network fabric.

Option A (1 ISL) would create a single point of failure: if that ISL fails, inter-switch cluster connectivity can be compromised. Options C and D are not the “minimum” in the base configuration context; while some architectures may support multiple ISLs for additional bandwidth, the base configuration callout clearly highlights two dedicated ISL ports.

Therefore, in a base configuration for BES-53248 cluster interconnect switches, the minimum number of supported ISLs between the two switches is2.

Cluster peering enables data replication and disaster recovery features such as SnapMirror and SnapVault. LIF configuration for cluster peering follows specific ONTAP SAN concepts.

Each cluster participating in a peer relationship must haveat least one intercluster LIF per node. This ensures redundancy and allows ONTAP to balance replication traffic across nodes.

Additionally,intercluster LIFs must use the default intercluster service policy, which defines the permitted traffic types and security rules required for peering operations.

An MTU of 9000 is recommended but not mandatory. Dedicated broadcast domains or IPspaces are optional and depend on network design.

Therefore, the correct answers areB and D.