FlashArray-Implementation-Specialist Exam Dumps : Pure Certified FlashArray Implementation Specialist (FAIS) Exam

Performing a simultaneous data pack evacuation (capacity migration) and a Hardware Non-Disruptive Upgrade (HWNDU, such as a controller swap) introduces a high degree of complexity. Pure Storage heavily emphasizes a sequential, risk-averse methodology during these major dual-maintenance events.

The standard operating procedure dictates that these two major operations must not overlap. First, the data pack evacuation is executed. The Purity operating system transparently moves all data blocks from the targeted legacy drives to the remaining free space in the array or to a newly installed swing shelf. Once the UI and CLI explicitly show the evacuation is 100% complete and the drives are marked as "empty" or "evacuated," the Implementation Engineer can safely unlatch and physically remove those old drives.

At this precise juncture— after removing the fully evacuated drives and before starting the physical controller replacements for the NDU —the engineer must contact Pure Storage Support. Support will log into the array remotely, run pre-flight health checks (such as hardware_check.py), verify that the array has cleanly stabilized from the drive removal, and ensure the cluster is perfectly healthy before granting the "go-ahead" to initiate the first controller failover. Proceeding into an NDU without this verification risks taking a controller offline while the storage fabric is still normalizing, which could compromise data availability.

To determine whether a specific FlashArray configuration, such as the FlashArray//X50R3, supports or is currently equipped to handle SAS Flash Modules, the command purehw list --type drive --all is the correct diagnostic tool. While the FlashArray//X series is architected as a 100% NVMe platform using DirectFlash Modules (DFMs) in the base chassis, it retains the capability to support legacy SAS Flash Modules (SSDs) through the attachment of external SAS expansion shelves.

The purehw list --type drive --all command provides a comprehensive enumeration of the physical drive hardware components recognized by the system. Unlike the puredrive list command, which focuses on the logical status, capacity, and admission state of the drives, the purehw command with the --type drive flag exposes the hardware-level details, including the interface protocol (SAS vs. NVMe) and the physical location of the drive bays.

By running this command, an Implementation Engineer can verify if the array is communicating with any SAS-based drive hardware. If SAS modules or SAS-compatible drive bays in an external shelf are listed, support is confirmed. Conversely, option A is syntactically incorrect for this purpose, and option B (purehw list --type controller) focuses on the compute node specifications rather than the storage media interfaces. Therefore, listing the drive hardware components is the definitive method to validate the presence and support of SAS Flash media within the specific array configuration during a capacity consolidation.

On a FlashArray//X20 (R2 or R3) , the default Fibre Channel configuration is a 2-port FC card installed in Slot 2 .

The FlashArray//X hardware architecture differentiates slot usage based on the controller model:

Entry Level (X10/X20): These controllers have a limited number of PCIe lanes and slots available for user expansion. Slots 0 and 1 are often utilized by internal system components or reserved. Therefore, the primary Host I/O card (FC or iSCSI) is standardly installed in Slot 2 . Additionally, due to the entry-level positioning, the 2-port card is the standard default (though 4-port is supported).

Performance Level (X50/X70/X90): As seen in previous questions, these models prioritize Slot 0 for Host I/O and typically default to 4-port cards.

The distinction is critical for Implementation Engineers to ensure they are cabling the correct ports. For an X20, cabling Slot 0 (if a port is even visible) would be incorrect; the active host ports are in Slot 2.