Free and Premium Pure Storage FlashArray-Implementation-Specialist Dumps Questions Answers

To validate that I/O traffic is correctly distributed across a host's initiators (Fibre Channel WWNs or iSCSI IQNs), the correct command ispurehost monitor --balance.

Ensuring "multipathing balance" is a critical post-installation check. If a host is configured correctly with Multipath I/O (MPIO) software (like DM-Multipath on Linux or MPIO on Windows), read/write requests should be distributed relatively evenly across all active paths to the storage array.

Command Function:The purehost monitor command provides real-time performance statistics for hosts. Adding the --balance flag switches the view to a granular breakdown of IOPS and Bandwidthper initiatorfor the specified host.

Interpretation:An Implementation Engineer looks for initiators showing 0 IOPS or significantly lower traffic than others, which would indicate a path failure, zoning issue, or incorrect MPIO policy (e.g., Failover Only instead of Round Robin). Options A and B are incorrect syntax; purehost list shows configuration (not real-time stats), and iobalance is not a valid Purity command argument.

A valid transfer path forre-using Fibre Channel (FC) cardsduring a controller upgrade includes moving cards from aFlashArray//Mto aFlashArray//XR2 or //XR3.

The FlashArray hardware compatibility matrix supports the migration of specific legacy hardware components to ensure investment protection for customers. The 16Gb Fibre Channel PCIe cards originally deployed in FlashArray//M controllers are physically and electrically compatible with the PCIe risers found in the FlashArray//X R2 and R3 generations.

When performing a "Stateless" upgrade (where the chassis/controllers are replaced but data drives or cards might be retained), the Implementation Engineer can physically transfer these FC HBAs from the retiring //M chassis into the new //X chassis (assuming the target chassis has the appropriate open slots and the cards meet the minimum speed requirements, typically 16Gb or 32Gb). Option B is the most comprehensive correct answer recognized by the exam, confirming that the //M series cards can land in either of the specified //X generations (R2 or R3). Option C is also physically possible but the specific exam context for "reuse" highlights the inter-generational leap from M to X.

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After configuring the management network and proxy settings, it is essential to validate that the FlashArray can successfully transmit logs and telemetry to the Pure1 cloud. The specific command designed to trigger a manual test of this "Phone Home" functionality ispurearray phonehome test.

purearray phonehome test: Initiates a test cycle where the array attempts to resolve the Pure1 endpoint, establish a secure connection, and send a sample payload. Success here confirms that DNS, firewall rules, and proxy settings are correct for outbound telemetry.

puresupport phonehome: This is often used to manuallysendlogs (e.g., puresupport phonehome --send), but thetestsyntax is specifically under purearray.

purearray test pinghome: This is not a valid standard command for this specific validation.

Using the correct command ensures the engineer receives a clear "Success" or "Failure" message to sign off on the installation checklist.

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ActiveCluster (AC)is the enablement feature that introducesMirrored Writestatistics into the Analysis section of the Purity GUI.

ActiveCluster provides synchronous replication (active-active) between two FlashArrays. In this configuration, every write request from a host must be committed to the NVRAM ofbotharrays before an acknowledgement is sent back to the host. This ensures zero Recovery Point Objective (RPO). Because this synchronous process introduces a latency component related to the network round-trip and the remote array's acknowledgement, Purity exposes a specific metric called "Mirrored Write" latency.

This metric allows administrators to distinguish between the local array's write processing time and the time spent waiting for the replication partner. It is critical for troubleshooting performance in stretched-cluster environments; if write latency spikes, the "Mirrored Write" stat helps determine if the bottleneck is the inter-site link (WAN) or the remote array. Neither FA File (NAS services) nor ActiveDR (asynchronous/near-sync replication) generate this specific synchronous write metric in the Analysis dashboard.

The FlashArray//XR4 utilizes onboard 100GbE RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) ports for connecting to the first loop of DirectFlash Shelves, removing the need for dedicated PCIe add-in cards for the base configuration. The port mapping for these onboard backend ports differs from previous generations.

On the //XR4 controller chassis, the specific Ethernet interfaces designated for thefirst DirectFlash Shelf loopare typically the high-numbered onboard ports. In this specific exam context and hardware revision,ETH 18 and ETH 19are identified as the correct primary backend connectivity ports .

Implementation Engineers must connect the QSFP28 cables from the "uplink" ports on the first shelf (IOM0 and IOM1) toETH18 and ETH19on the controllers (CT0 and CT1) respectively. Using incorrect ports (like ETH0/1, which are management) would result in the shelf not being detected by the storage fabric.

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The Purity upgrade process involves two main phases: installing the software image (placing the bits on the boot drive) and then activating it (booting into the new kernel).

After the pureinstall command has successfully unpacked and staged the new Purity version, the changes are not live until the system reboots. In a Non-Disruptive Upgrade (NDU), this is done one controller at a time.

The required step to commit and run the new version is toReboot the controller.

The pureinstall workflow typically prompts for or automatically initiates this reboot.

The secondary controller reboots first, loads the new Purity version, and rejoins the cluster.

Then, the primary controller fails over services to the updated secondary, reboots, and updates itself.

A full "Reboot the array" (simultaneous reboot) would be disruptive and is not the standard procedure for an NDU. "Logging out" has no effect on the system state.

To expand a FlashArray//X10 from a5/5(fully populated chassis with two 5TB equivalent packs) to an11/11(two 11TB equivalent packs) configuration, the correct action is toinstall a swing shelf with loan capacity.

The Constraint:The "5/5" notation implies the chassis slots are already occupied by the existing media. Since the customer isreplacingthe existing packs with larger ones (Capacity Consolidation) rather than just adding new ones, the engineer needs a place to put the data during the swap.

Why Swing Shelf:The FlashArray//X10 chassis has limited slots. You cannot simply pull a pack (Option A) if the remaining pack doesn't have enough free space to hold all the data (which is typical in upgrade scenarios). ASwing Shelf(temporary external SAS or NVMe shelf provided by Pure) is attached to the array. The data is evacuated from the internal drives to this shelf. Once the internal slots are empty, the new 11TB packs are installed. The data is then moved back from the shelf to the new packs, and the shelf is removed.

The customer should proceed via theSelf-Service Upgrade (SSU)portal available onPure1 Manage.

Pure Storage has transitioned significantly toward a self-service model for routine software upgrades to provide customers with greater flexibility and immediacy.

Pure1 Manage:This cloud-based management platform includes a "Software Lifecycle" or "Upgrade" widget. It automatically checks the array's health, compatibility, and readiness for various Purity versions.

Process:The customer can select the target Purity version directly in the portal. Pure1 then orchestrates the "Pre-Flight Checks" (Remote Audit) to ensure the array is healthy. Once passed, the Purity software is downloaded directly to the array, and the customer (or the engineer) can trigger the upgrade at their convenience without needing to schedule a specific window with a live Support engineer.

Invalid Options:Options A and B describe legacy or unsupported workflows. Customers do not manually download Purity ISOs to USB drives or run raw pureinstall CLI commands manually; these methods lack the automated safety checks and cloud-based verification provided by the SSU ecosystem.

The FlashArray//XR4 introduces a new chassis layout and PCIe slot numbering scheme compared to previous generations. For expansion connectivity, specific slots are designated for the backend SAS or Ethernet/RoCE fabric cards that connect to DirectFlash Shelves.

According to the //XR4 hardware guide and expansion best practices,PCIe slot 3is the designated location for the additional expansion interface card required when adding a second DirectFlash Shelf (or for specific shelf configurations). Slots 0 and 1 are often reserved for host I/O or other functions, and slot numbering/priority is strict to ensure the BIOS and Purity software correctly recognize the card function.

Installing the card in the wrong slot (like slot 0 or 4, if those are reserved for other uses or primary I/O) could result in the shelf not being detected, the array failing to boot, or suboptimal performance due to PCIe lane allocation. Therefore, the engineer must install the DFS expansion card intoPCIe slot 3and cable the second shelf to the ports on that specific card to ensure a supported and functional configuration.

When installing rails for a FlashArray in a rack requiring cage nuts (square hole racks that are not using the tool-less mechanism, or specific threaded adaptations), the correct placement for the cage nut is thetop square of the lowest Rack Unit (RU)that the rail will occupy.

Pure Storage rail kits typically secure at the bottom of the targeted rack unit.

The "3-Hole" Rule:A standard Rack Unit (1U) consists of three vertical holes (often referred to as the bottom, middle, and top hole).

Alignment:The rail flange is designed to align such that the retaining screw or positioning stud engages specific holes to support the weight. For the standard securement point, the documentation specifies installing the cage nut in thetop holeof the specific RU where the rail base sits (often the "lowest" RU if the device spans multiple U's, though the rail itself is 1U high).

Precision:Placing it in the "Lowest square of the lowest RU" (Option A) would interfere with the rail's shelf lip or the device below it. Correct alignment ensures the rail is level and the chassis slides in without binding.

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 successfully initialize the FlashArray, the Implementation Engineer shouldremove the port numberfrom the SMTP relay host field.

During the initial setup (via the Purity GUI wizard or CLI), the system requests a "Relay Host" for email alerts. The input field typically expects a validFully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN)or IP address (e.g., outlook.office365.com or smtp.example.com).

Syntax Error:Appending the port number (e.g., :587) to the hostname often causes a DNS resolution failure or a syntax error because the array's initialization parser treats the entire string (including the colon and numbers) as the hostname.

Port Configuration:While modern Purity versions support custom SMTP ports (like 587 for TLS), this is often configuredafterthe initial network setup or requires a specific command syntax that separates the host and port. For the purpose of passing the initial "New Array" setup wizard, providing the clean hostname is the standard correction. The engineer can then refine the SMTP settings (adding authentication and specific ports) in the Purity GUI once the array is initialized and accessible.

TheFlashArray//XLrequires4 x C19/C20power cables to connect to the rack Power Distribution Units (PDUs).

The FlashArray//XL chassis (5U) is significantly larger and draws more power than the standard FlashArray//X series (3U). It is equipped with four high-capacity Power Supply Units (PSUs) to support the increased thermal and electrical load of the dense DirectFlash Modules and high-performance controllers.

Connector Type:To handle the higher amperage safely, the //XL utilizesIEC C20inlets on the chassis side (rectangular with horizontal pins) rather than the standard C14 inlets found on most servers. Consequently, the required cables must have aC19connector (female) to plug into the array and aC20connector (male) to plug into the PDU (assuming a high-power PDU).

Quantity:Since the chassis has four PSUs for N+2 redundancy, four distinct cables are required. The standard C13/C14 cables (Option A/B) used for lower-wattage IT equipment are physically incompatible and electrically insufficient for the //XL platform.

When performing a standard installation on a FlashArray, the first logical configuration step is theCT0 configuration(typically via the puresetup utility on the primary controller).

Workflow:After the physical rack-and-stack, cabling, and power-on, the Implementation Engineer must establish a management connection to the array. This is done by connecting to the serial console or the default IP ofController 0 (CT0).

Initialization:The puresetup process on CT0 initializes the system, sets the management IP addresses (VIP, CT0, CT1), and configures the gateway/DNS. This step effectively "builds" the array cluster.

Why not C?While ensuring the array is on the target code version is critical, a "Code Upgrade" is typically performedafterthe array is initialized and network-accessible (or via the Pure1 SSU workflow). The only exception is a manual USB re-image for a factory reset, but the standard installation procedure definesConfiguration/Initializationas the primary step to bring the system online. Configuration of CT1 (Option B) happens automatically as part of the cluster creation initiated from CT0.

Data evacuation is a background process used to move data off specific physical media (like a shelf or data pack) so it can be removed safely. Purity is designed to handle dynamic changes to evacuation requests efficiently.

If an evacuation is already running and additional hardware needs to be evacuated, the Implementation Engineer does not need to stop the current job or wait for it to finish. The correct procedure is toissue a new evacuation commandspecifying the additional packs or shelves. Purity will intelligently update the existing background job to include the new targets, queuing the data movement logic to ensure all specified hardware is cleared. This "add-to-flight" capability saves time and administrative overhead compared to cancelling and restarting the entire workflow.

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To enable Pure Storage Support to access the FlashArray for diagnostics, upgrades, or troubleshooting, the correct command ispurearray remoteassist --connect.

Remote Assist (RA):This feature creates a secure, outbound SSH tunnel from the FlashArray to the Pure Storage support infrastructure. It allows support engineers to log in remotely without requiring the customer to open inbound firewall ports or set up a VPN.

Command Syntax:

purearray remoteassist: Running this command without arguments simply displays thecurrent statusof the session (e.g., "connected" or "disconnected") and the port number.

--connect: This is the specific flag (action) required toinitiatethe tunnel.

Workflow:When an Implementation Engineer is on-site and needs assistance (or is handing over for a remote upgrade), they execute this command. The output will confirm "Remote Assist enabled" and provide a session name/port, which the engineer then communicates to the Support team. The session typically stays active for a set duration (default 24 hours) or until manually disconnected (purearray remoteassist --disconnect).

After executing the puredb run giveback --safe command during a manual controller upgrade or specific non-disruptive upgrade (NDU) procedure, the Implementation Engineer must wait for10 minutesbefore proceeding to the next step (typically upgrading the peer controller).

The giveback command instructs the recently upgraded controller (e.g., CT0) to resume its primary role and take back ownership of its assigned storage resources and I/O handling from the peer controller. This process triggers a failover event for the host multipathing software.

Path Stabilization:The 10-minute wait time is a critical safety buffer mandated to ensure that all host-side multipathing drivers (MPIO) have successfully recognized the restored paths to the upgraded controller and have stabilized.

Risk Mitigation:Proceeding too quickly—before the hosts have fully settled and paths are marked as "Active/Optimized"—could lead to an "all paths down" (APD) scenario when the second controller is taken offline for its upgrade. This wait time verifies that the upgraded node is fully functional and carrying load, adhering to the strict "availability first" philosophy of FlashArray upgrades.

The FlashArray//XL features a robust2+2power supply unit (PSU) redundancy configuration. Unlike the smaller FlashArray//X chassis (3U), which typically utilizes two power supplies in a 1+1 redundancy setup, the FlashArray//XL utilizes a larger 5U chassis designed for higher performance and density, requiring a more substantial power infrastructure.

The //XL chassis is equipped with four physical Power Supply Units. These are configured to operate in an N+2 mode (effectively 2+2), meaning the system requires two PSUs to support the full electrical load of the chassis, while the other two provide redundancy. This architecture allows the array to survive the simultaneous failure or loss of input power to up to two power supplies without any interruption to service.

This design ensures maximum availability even in scenarios where an entire power grid feed (A-side or B-side) fails, or if multiple hardware components malfunction simultaneously. Options A (1+1) applies to the standard //X series, and Option C (3+1) is not a supported configuration for the FlashArray//XL. The 2+2 design is critical for maintaining the "Always-On" reliability standards required for the mission-critical workloads that the //XL platform supports.

The FlashArray//XR5 (and //E family) introduces a significant architectural shift regarding Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM). In previous generations (like R2/R3), NVRAM was provided by dedicated PCIe modules installed in specific "NVB" slots in the chassis.

In the //XR5 architecture, Pure Storage moved toDistributed NVRAM. The NVRAM functionality is integrated directly into the DirectFlash Modules (specifically theDFMDs- DirectFlash Module with Distributed NVRAM). This allows the NVRAM capacity to scale with the storage and removes the bottleneck of dedicated slots.

For a system to function correctly, a minimum number of these NVRAM-equipped modules must be present to form the initial write buffer and system quorum. The standard installation requirement for an //XR5 is that thefirst 10 slots (Slots 0-9)are populated with these specific DFMDs. This ensures there is sufficient distributed NVRAM capacity to boot the Purity operating environment and handle incoming writes safely. The Implementation Engineer must populate these slots first before adding standard DFMs in the remaining slots.

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For a Non-Disruptive Upgrade (NDU) from aFlashArray//Xto aFlashArray//XL, the upgrade kit typically contains4 QSFP cables, 2 Mellanox cards, and 20 DFMD blanks (or modules).

2 Mellanox Cards:The FlashArray//X (source) likely requires the installation of 100GbE RoCE adapters (Mellanox) into its controllers to establish the high-speed replication link with the new FlashArray//XL (which has 100GbE native). One card is installed per //X controller.

4 QSFP Cables:To ensure a redundant, high-bandwidth connection between the two arrays during the data migration phase, 2 cables are used per controller pair (CT0-to-CT0 and CT1-to-CT1), totaling 4 cables.

20 DFMDs (Blanks/Fillers):The FlashArray//X typically holds 20 DirectFlash Modules. The FlashArray//XL chassis has 40 slots. When the 20 data drives are physically moved from the //X to the //XL, the //XL will still have 20 empty slots. These must be filled with DirectFlash blanking modules (DFMD blanks) to maintain proper chassis airflow and thermal pressure. Thus, the kit includes these 20 fillers.

TheFlashArray//XR2 and //XR3(representing the FlashArray//X generation) utilize a standardized3U(3 Rack Units) chassis form factor.

This 3U chassis is the foundation for the majority of the FlashArray//X line, including the //X10, //X20, //X50, //X70, and //X90 models. It is designed to be compact while providing sufficient airflow and space for the dual controllers, two data packs (up to 20 DirectFlash Modules), and power/cooling infrastructure.

Dimensions:Approximately 5.12 inches (13 cm) in height.

Rack Layout:Implementation Engineers must reserve 3U of contiguous space for the base controller chassis. If expansion shelves are included, they typically require an additional 2U each (for SAS or NVMe shelves).

Option B (4U) is not a standard height for current Pure Storage arrays. Option C (5U) refers to theFlashArray//XL, a larger, performance-optimized platform designed for maximum scale and density, which uses a significantly taller chassis to accommodate more expansion slots and power components. Therefore, for the specified R2/R3 X-series, 3U is the correct height.

When performing a controller upgrade (Non-Disruptive Upgrade) from an //X50R3 to an //X50R4, the specific hardware configuration of the source array dictates the target bill of materials. The presence ofSAS drivesin the chassis indicates that the source is a legacy or transitional configuration, as the standard //X R4 platform is optimized for end-to-end NVMe (DirectFlash).

However, the question asks for the specific controller SKU required. In Pure Storage nomenclature for upgrades, the standard controller replacement part is typically the base model code, hereFLASHARRAY//XC50 R4.

The "XC" designation often refers to the controller component itself in upgrade kits. While special considerations apply to SAS media (which are usually phased out or require specific handling during R4 upgrades since R4 natively drops legacy SAS support on the motherboard), thecontrollerpart number itself remains the standard R4 SKU (Option C). Options like "SE" or "NS" (often denoting specific encryption or networking variants) are not the standard identifiers for the base controller upgrade in this context.

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To perform this specific "SAS-to-NVMe" media refresh during an upgrade, aSAS Swing Shelfis required.

The scenario describes a transition from a FlashArray//M (SAS-based chassis) to a FlashArray//X (NVMe-based chassis). The customer intends to retire the old SAS SSDs (the "SAS Chassis Data Packs") and move to new DirectFlash Modules (DFMs).

The Constraint:The old SAS drives physically cannot be inserted into the new //X NVMe chassis.

The Workflow:To migrate the data, the old SAS drives must be temporarily attached to the new //X controller as external capacity. Since they were originallyinternalchassis drives, they have no enclosure. Therefore, the engineer needs an emptySAS expansion shelf(Swing Shelf) to house these legacy drives.

Process:

Install the new //X chassis with the new DFMs.

Install the SAS Swing Shelf and populate it with the old SAS drives from the //M chassis.

Connect the SAS shelf to the //X controller (requires SAS connectivity).

The system sees the old data (external) and the new capacity (internal).

The system evacuates the data from the SAS shelf to the internal DFMs.

Once empty, the SAS shelf is removed.

A "DFM Swing Shelf" (Option A) would not help read the old SAS drives.

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

Proper airflow and thermal management are critical for the reliability of high-density storage arrays. FlashArray chassis are designed with specific airflow baffles and cooling zones that rely on the drive bays being populated in a specific order.

When installing a new FlashArray with a single data pack (typically 10 drives), the Implementation Engineer must install the DirectFlash Modulesstarting in bay 0, filling from left to right.

Bay 0is typically the leftmost slot (when facing the front of the array).

Filling slots 0–9 ensures that the first "cooling zone" is properly pressurized, forcing air through the populated modules and the chassis midplane correctly.

Leaving gaps (e.g., installing in slots 10–19 while 0–9 are empty) can disrupt the airflow path, potentially leading to hotspots or inefficient cooling for the controllers behind the backplane.

Additionally, the software enumeration of drives often expects contiguous population starting from the lowest index for logical clarity, though cooling is the primary physical constraint.

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When installing thefirst DirectFlash Shelf (DFS)on aFlashArray//XR2 or //XR3utilizing the onboard or default mezzanine connectivity, the correct ports to use areETH6 and ETH9.

Hardware Layout:The FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 utilize a specificEthernet Mezzanine (EMEZZ)slot for backend connectivity to NVMe-oF shelves. This card typically enumerates its ports as ETH6 through ETH9 (a 4-port configuration).

Cabling Rule:To maximize physical separation and ensure redundancy across the internal ASIC lanes of the mezzanine card, standard cabling procedures for thefirstshelf dictate using the outer ports:ETH6(Port 0) andETH9(Port 3).

Redundancy:This configuration (Port 0 and Port 3) is preferred over using adjacent ports (like 6 and 7) to reduce the risk of a single lane cluster failure affecting both connections to the shelf. The second shelf, if added later, would typically utilize the remaining ports (ETH7 and ETH8).

During a controller upgrade (e.g., //X to //XL), the puresetup script attempts to migrate network configurations from the old controller's ports to the new controller's ports. If the script detects that certain ports configured on the source array are physically missing or "link down" on the target array, it halts to prevent a configuration mismatch that could cause a service outage.

The error message explicitly lists the affected ports. The correct resolution path is to:

Identify the services:Determine if the missing ports are critical (e.g., a replication link that hasn't been cabled yet) or non-critical (e.g., an unused interface).

Re-run with override:Execute the puresetup command again, this time appending the specific flags or arguments (often suggested in the error output or upgrade guide) to explicitly acknowledge and include those affected ports. This tells the script, "I know these ports are down/missing; proceed with the migration anyway."

This allows the upgrade logic to complete the configuration transfer so the new controller can boot, after which the engineer can physically troubleshoot the link status.

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When performing a specific legacy upgrade from aFlashArray FA-405 to a FlashArray//X Series, the 2-Port InfiniBand card must be installed inPCIe Slot 3of the target controller (CT1).

Upgrade Architecture:The legacy FA-400 series utilized InfiniBand (IB) for its high-speed cluster interconnect. The modern FlashArray//X series utilizes PCIe/NTB over an internal midplane or different interconnects. However, during anon-disruptive upgrade (NDU)or data migration where the new //X controller is temporarily clustered with the old FA-405 controller to transfer state and data, they must share a compatible link.

Slot Reservation:The FlashArray//X hardware guide and upgrade procedures strictly designateSlot 3(the top slot on the riser in many //X chassis configurations) as the reserved location for this temporary InfiniBand interconnect card. Installing it in Slot 0 or 2 would conflict with the primary Host I/O or backend connectivity paths, potentially causing the controller to fail the upgrade pre-checks or preventing the cluster from forming.

Data evacuation from a shelf is a sensitive background process where data is migrated off specific physical media to free it for removal. While the purearray evacuate command initiates the data movement, the finalization of the process—specifically the logical removal of the shelf object from the system configuration to allow for safe physical disconnection—often requires engineering-level commands or verification.

Therefore, before Pure Storage Support can log in to run these specific completion scripts or verification checks, the Implementation Engineer mustEnable Remote Assist (RA).

Remote Assist creates a secure, outbound SSH tunnel that allows Support to access the array remotely.

Without RA enabled, Support cannot connect to the array to execute the necessary puredrive or internal maintenance commands to mark the shelf as "vacated" and safe to unplug.

Powering off the shelf (Option B) before this step could result in data loss or an array outage if the system still believes data resides there.

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On aFlashArray//X20 (R2 or R3), the default Fibre Channel configuration is a2-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 inSlot 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 prioritizeSlot 0for Host I/O and typically default to4-portcards.

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.

On aFlashArray//XR2 or //XR3, if a dedicatedPCIe SAS HBA(Host Bus Adapter) is required for external shelf connectivity (expanding beyond the onboard SAS ports), it must be installed inSlot 1.

The PCIe slot prioritization on the FlashArray//X R2/R3 controllers is strictly defined to ensure optimal performance and lane distribution:

Slot 0:Reserved primarily for frontend Host I/O cards (Fibre Channel or iSCSI/Ethernet). This slot usually connects to CPU 0 and offers high bandwidth for host traffic.

Slot 1:Designated as the primary expansion slot forbackend connectivity(SAS cards for expansion shelves) or secondary Host I/O if no SAS expansion is needed.

Slot 2:On smaller models (X10/X20), this is often theonlyhost I/O slot, but on the larger X50/X70/X90 chassis, it is used for additional Host I/O.

If an Implementation Engineer installs a SAS card in Slot 0, the system may fail to recognize the shelves correctly or may flag a configuration error, as the Purity software expects backend expansion traffic to route through the bus associated with Slot 1. Therefore, for SAS expansion cards, Slot 1 is the mandatory location.

The management ports (typically eth0 and eth1 on the controllers) are the dedicated interfaces for administrative access to the FlashArray. They host the Purity GUI (Graphical User Interface), the CLI (Command Line Interface) via SSH, and the REST API endpoints.

If the customer's network team has failed to provision or patch these ports:

The customer will be unable to log in to the array.There is no other standard path for administration.

While the arraycantechnically serve data over Fibre Channel or iSCSI (if those data ports are connected), the array cannot be managed, monitored, or configured.

The Implementation Engineer can perform the initial setup using the direct serial console connection, but handing over a functional system to the customer requires functioning management networking. Without it, the customer is locked out of the dashboard and cannot perform day-to-day operations.

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Pure Storage has introducedSelf-Service Upgrades (SSU)via thePure1 Manageportal to provide customers with greater flexibility and control over their maintenance windows.

If a client cannot wait for a scheduled assisted upgrade with a Support Engineer, the validated and supported path is togo through the Self-Service upgrade portal on Pure1 Manage.

This portal performs the same pre-flight health checks (Remote Assist, array health, pathing) that a Support Engineer would perform manually.

Once the checks pass, the customer can schedule and initiate the Purity upgrade directly from the cloud dashboard.

The process is fully automated and monitored by Pure1. This eliminates the wait time for human resource availability while maintaining the safety guardrails of a supported upgrade. Manual USB installs (Option A) or direct CLI downloads (Option B) are generally restricted or not recommended for standard customer workflows without specific support supervision.

After a controller upgrade or any maintenance that involves path failovers, it is critical to verify that the host multipathing software has restored connectivity to all paths and that I/O is being distributed correctly. The specific command to validate this in Purity ispurehost monitor --balance.

purehost monitor --balance: This command provides a real-time view of I/O statistics per initiator (host path). It highlights imbalances where one path might be taking zero traffic while others are overloaded, which typically indicates a pathing configuration issue, a bad cable, or a host that has not correctly rediscovered the path after the controller reboot.

purehost list simply displays configured hosts, not live performance data.

pureport list displays the status of array ports but does not show the per-host I/O distribution required to verify "balance."

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During and after a Hardware Non-Disruptive Upgrade (HWNDU), the FlashArray may generate various alerts related to component removals, path failovers, or temporary redundancy reductions. Once the upgrade is physically complete and the software has stabilized, the Implementation Engineer must verify that the array has returned to a fully healthy state.

The commandpurealert listis the primary tool for this verification. It displays the current table of active alerts on the system.

If the array is healthy, this list should be empty or contain only "Info" level messages.

If the system is still recovering, you might see alerts with a status indicating they are "closing" or "downgrading" as the conditions resolve (e.g., "Controller redundancy restored").

pureaudit list shows the history of user commands, not system health alerts. puremaintenance is not a standard command for checking alert status. Therefore, purealert list is the correct command to validate that no critical hardware or software issues remain active after the maintenance window.

Validating multipath I/O balance is a critical post-configuration step. The FlashArray CLI provides a specific monitoring tool for this purpose under the purehost command suite.

purehost monitor --balanceis the correct command.

monitor: This keyword initiates a real-time display of performance metrics (IOPS, bandwidth, latency).

--balance: This flag breaks down the metricsper initiator(per HBA/path) for the specified host(s).

The output allows the engineer to see if I/O is flowing evenly across all paths. If one path shows 0 IOPS while others are active, it indicates a zoning, cabling, or multipathing configuration issue that must be resolved to ensure high availability.

During a hardware upgrade, physical components are often moved or handled, leading to potential connection issues. If a specific port (like CT0.ETH14) that is expected to carry traffic shows0.00 b/sand "Link Down" or similar status immediately after the controller is initialized, the most likely physical issue is an improperly seated transceiver (SFP) or cable.

The standard troubleshooting hierarchy dictates checking Layer 1 (Physical) first. Therefore, the engineer shouldensure the SFP in CT0.ETH14 is fully seated and re-seat it if necessary. SFPs can easily become slightly dislodged during the cable swap from the old controller to the new one. Checking the seating is a quick, non-disruptive step that resolves a high percentage of "dead port" issues during upgrades. Swapping to a management port (Option A) is invalid because management ports often have different speeds or configurations, and asking the customer to reboot hosts (Option B) is premature and potentially disruptive before ruling out the physical array connection.

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The FlashArray//XL series (such as the XL130R5) utilizes a modern backend connectivity architecture for its expansion shelves, specifically the DirectFlash Shelf (DFS). Unlike older generations that might have used SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) for shelf connectivity, the //XL architecture relies on high-speed Ethernet with RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) to communicate with external media shelves. This ensures that the NVMe drives in the shelf perform with the same low latency as those in the head unit.

To attach a DirectFlash Shelf to a FlashArray//XL130R5, the chassis must be populated with specific PCIe interface cards designated for shelf back-end connectivity. The correct part for this is theFA-XL-100G Ethernet/RoCE 2-Portcard. This card provides the necessary 100 Gigabit Ethernet bandwidth and RoCE protocol support required for the NVMe-oF (NVMe over Fabrics) backend fabric that Pure Storage uses.

It is crucial to distinguish this from host-facing cards. While an "iSCSI/RoCE" card exists, the shelf connectivity specifically utilizes the "Ethernet/RoCE" designation in the BOM to differentiate backend fabric ports from frontend host ports. The 200G options are generally reserved for host connectivity or inter-array clustering in specific high-performance setups, but the standard validated card for connecting the DFS to the //XL130R5 is the 100G Ethernet/RoCE adapter. Verifying this line item on the BOM prevents onsite delays where the engineer might otherwise find themselves with incompatible ports for the expansion shelves.

During the initial deployment phase of a FlashArray, thepuresetupuser is utilized to run the initial configuration scripts (setting IPs, array name, etc.). However, once the array initialization is complete and the Purity operating system is fully running, the puresetup account is effectively disabled or restricted from performing standard administrative tasks.

For all subsequent operations, including running final health checks, verifying services, and performing day-to-day management, the Implementation Engineer must switch to thepureuseraccount. This is the default administrative superuser for the FlashArray.

The pureuser account has full privileges to run commands like purearray list, pureadm list, and other validation tools required to sign off on the installation. The pureeng account is reserved strictly for internal Pure Storage Engineering use and is not available for standard implementation tasks. Therefore, attempting to log in as puresetup after the array is configured will often result in authentication failure or a restricted shell that does not allow for the necessary health validation commands.

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When expanding a FlashArray//XR4 with additional DirectFlash Shelves (DFS), discrete PCIe Ethernet/RoCE cards are added to the chassis to provide the necessary backend connectivity. The FlashArray operating system (Purity) enumerates network interfaces sequentially based on slot order and onboard port detection.

On the //XR4 platform, the onboard ports and standard primary expansion slots typically occupy the interface names eth0 through eth5 (depending on the exact transceiver and daughter card configuration, where eth0-3 are often onboard/mezzanine). When a new 2-port expansion card is installed into the designated slot (e.g., Slot 3) to support asecondshelf loop, Purity assigns the next available interface identifiers to these physical ports.

In a standard deployment configuration for a second shelf, these new ports are enumerated asETH6 and ETH7. The Implementation Engineer should verify these specific interfaces in the GUI or CLI (pureport list) to ensure the card is recognized and to cable the second shelf correctly to these ports, rather than assuming they will be eth4/5 which might be assigned to the first shelf or other internal functions.

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FlashArray performance and capacity management rely on "Write Groups"—logical groupings of drives that Purity uses to stripe data. A "Wide Write Group" typically consists of roughly 20 drives and offers better performance and capacity efficiency than smaller groups. However, Purity generally requires write groups to be contained within a single physical enclosure (chassis or shelf) to maintain failure domain boundaries and performance predictability.

In this scenario, the customer wants the new 91TB pack to form a wide write group. The chassis already has a 91TB group and a 45TB group. The shelf has one 45TB group. To create a wide write group with the new 91TB pack, it is best to pair it with an existing matching or compatible group in the same enclosure. Since the chassis is full (20 drives), you cannot simply add the new pack there without moving something.

The correct procedure is tomove the 45TB write group from the chassis to the shelf. This frees up 10 slots in the chassis. The shelf now holds two 45TB groups (which is valid). The chassis now has the original 91TB group and 10 empty slots. The engineer can then install the new 91TB data pack into those empty chassis slots. Purity will then be able to merge or manage these two 91TB packs (the existing one and the new one) as a highly efficient configuration, potentially forming the requested wide write group or at least balancing the high-capacity drives within the controller chassis where bandwidth is highest. This physical rearrangement is necessary because write groups cannot span across the chassis-shelf interconnect.

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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.

The upgrade from a FlashArray//XR4 to a FlashArray//XL is a specific "Data-in-Place" hardware migration that utilizes thepurewes(Pure Workflow Execution Service) utility to orchestrate complex steps. One of the most critical steps involves stopping the Purity software stack on the controller that is about to be removed (CT0) to ensure a clean failover and data flush to the surviving controller.

The correct command syntax ispurewes controller disable --purity --verify-mode secondary --verify-array ARRAY_NAME ct0.

purewes controller disable: Initiates the shutdown of the controller's services.

--purity: Specifies that the Purity software stack should be stopped (not just the hardware).

--verify-mode secondary: This is a crucial safety check. It ensures the commandonlyexecutes if CT0 is currently the Secondary controller. If CT0 were Primary, running this command without a failover first would cause an outage.

--verify-array: Confirms the action is being taken on the correct target array.

This command sequence ensures the controller is safely quiesced before the Implementation Engineer physically removes it from the chassis.

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The FlashArray//XL series has a specific, validated slot population rule for its PCIe cards to ensure optimal performance and thermal management. For a standard Fibre Channel (FC) configuration on aFlashArray//XLR5, the factory default shipment includes a specific arrangement of host I/O cards and offload engines.

The correct default configuration is:

PCIe Slot 3:4-Port 32Gb FC card.

PCIe Slot 5:2-Port 32Gb FC card.

PCIe Slot 6:DirectCompress Accelerator (DCA).

This layout (Option B) adheres to the //XL's architecture where specific slots are prioritized for frontend host I/O (like slots 3 and 5) and others for offload functions or backend connectivity. Implementation Engineers must verify cards are in these exact slots during the visual inspection. If cards are moved to incorrect slots (like slot 1 or 4 for primary FC in this specific config), the array may not boot or may fail to initialize the FC services correctly due to BIOS enumeration orders.

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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-testsflag 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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To properly configure a FlashArray forActiveCluster with Ethernet replication, a total of9 IP addressesare typically required per array. If the installation document currently lists only3 IP addresses, the Implementation Engineer needs6 additional IP addresses.

The breakdown of the requirement is as follows:

Management (5 IPs):Standard ActiveCluster best practices mandate fully redundant management connectivity. This includes 1 Virtual IP (VIP) and 4 Physical IPs (CT0.eth0, CT1.eth0, CT0.eth1, and CT1.eth1). The initial "3 IP addresses" provided usually correspond to the basic setup (VIP, CT0.eth0, CT1.eth0), leaving a deficit of 2 management IPs (for the eth1 redundancy).

Replication (4 IPs):ActiveCluster over Ethernet requires dedicated replication ports separate from management. The standard configuration utilizes two physical ports per controller for redundancy (e.g., CT0.eth2, CT0.eth3, CT1.eth2, CT1.eth3), requiring 4 unique IP addresses.

Therefore, 2 additional management IPs + 4 replication IPs =6 additional IPsrequired to meet the strict redundancy standards for an ActiveCluster deployment.