D-PWF-DS-23 - Dell PowerFlex Design 2023 Exam

The cause of the snapshot creation failure when a volume has a snapshot policy assigned is likely because the snapshot is the 61st created by the policy. According to Dell PowerFlex documentation, of the 126 user-available snapshots per volume, sixty (60) can be used for policy-based snapshot scheduling1. This means that if the policy attempts to create a snapshot beyond this limit, it will fail.

Here’s a step-by-step explanation of the issue:

• Snapshot Policy Limit: Each volume in a PowerFlex system can have a maximum of 126 user-available snapshots. For policy-based snapshot scheduling, the limit is 60 snapshots per volume1.
• Policy-Based Snapshot Creation: When a snapshot policy is in place, it will automatically attempt to create snapshots based on the defined schedule and retention levels.
• Failure Point: If the snapshot policy tries to create a snapshot and it is the 61st snapshot for that volume, the creation will fail because it exceeds the limit set for policy-based snapshots1.
• Resolution: To resolve this issue, the administrator would need to adjust the snapshot policy to ensure that it does not exceed the limit of 60 snapshots. This may involve modifying the retention levels or the frequency of snapshot creation.

This explanation is based on the snapshot policy details provided in the Dell PowerFlex documentation, which outlines the restrictions and uses of snapshots within the PowerFlex storage system1.

Secure snapshots in PowerFlex are controlled by policies that define their retention and expiration periods. If a snapshot has a lock enabled, it cannot be deleted until the lock is disabled. The lock is a security feature that prevents accidental or unauthorized deletion of the snapshot before its intended retention period1.

To delete a secure snapshot that is still within its expiration period but needs to be removed, the administrator must first disable the snapshot policy lock. Here are the general steps to do so:

• Access PowerFlex Manager.
• Navigate to the Snapshots section.
• Locate the specific snapshot that needs to be deleted.
• Disable the lock on the snapshot policy associated with the snapshot.
• Once the lock is disabled, the snapshot can be deleted manually.

Changing the snapshot expiration period to 30 days (Option C) would not affect the ability to delete the snapshot if the lock is still enabled. The Dual Signature Policy agreement with Dell (Option A) is not a standard procedure for deleting snapshots within PowerFlex and is not related to the administrative controls of snapshot policies.

Therefore, the correct answer is B. Disable the snapshot policy lock on the snapshot, as this action will allow the administrator to delete the snapshot before the expiration period, provided that the snapshot is no longer needed and can be safely removed from the system1.

The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) is the component within a PowerFlex cluster that provides server metrics, including telemetry and thermal data, and allows for setting the server configuration profile. iDRAC is an embedded system management hardware and software solution that provides remote management capabilities, system health monitoring, and recovery capabilities. It is a key component for server lifecycle management within the PowerFlex infrastructure1.

iDRAC operates independently from the server’s CPU and operating system, enabling administrators to monitor server health and manage systems even when the server is turned off or unresponsive. It provides a comprehensive set of server management features, including:

• Monitoring server health and managing power usage.
• Accessing logs for troubleshooting and recovery.
• Updating firmware and drivers.
• Configuring hardware settings and server profiles.

These capabilities are essential for maintaining the reliability and performance of PowerFlex clusters, making iDRAC a critical component for server metrics and configuration management.