Nutanix Volumes, part of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), provides block storage services via iSCSI to external hosts, such as physical servers. The iSCSI traffic is managed by the Controller VMs (CVMs) in the Nutanix cluster, and a virtual IP address called the Data Services IP is used for iSCSI communication. To isolate iSCSI traffic on a dedicated network, the administrator must ensure that this traffic is routed over the isolated network.
Analysis of Options:
Option A (Create a new network interface on the CVMs via ncli): Incorrect. While it’s possible to create additional network interfaces on CVMs using the ncli command-line tool, this is not the recommended or standard method for isolating iSCSI traffic. The Data Services IP is the primary mechanism for managing iSCSI traffic, and it can be assigned to an isolated network without creating new interfaces on each CVM.
Option B (Configure the Data Services IP on an isolated network): Correct. The Data Services IP (also known as the iSCSI Data Services IP) is a cluster-wide virtual IP used for iSCSI traffic. By configuring the Data Services IP to use an IP address on the isolated network (e.g., a specific VLAN or subnet dedicated to iSCSI), the administrator ensures that all iSCSI traffic is routed over that network, meeting the requirement for isolation. This configuration is done in Prism Element under the cluster’s iSCSI settings.
Option C (Configure network segmentation for Volumes): Incorrect. Network segmentation in Nutanix typically refers to isolating traffic using VLANs or separate subnets, which is indirectly achieved by configuring the Data Services IP (option B). However, “network segmentation for Volumes” is not a specific feature or configuration step in Nutanix; the correct approach is to assign the Data Services IP to the isolated network, which inherently segments the traffic.
Option D (Create a Volumes network in Prism Central): Incorrect. Prism Central is used for centralized management of multiple clusters, but the configuration of iSCSI traffic (e.g., the Data Services IP) is performed at the cluster level in Prism Element, not Prism Central. There is no concept of a “Volumes network” in Prism Central for this purpose.
Why Option B?
The Data Services IP is the key configuration for iSCSI traffic in a Nutanix cluster. By assigning this IP to an isolated network (e.g., a dedicated VLAN or subnet), the administrator ensures that all iSCSI traffic is routed over that network, achieving the required isolation. This is a standard and recommended approach in Nutanix for isolating iSCSI traffic.
Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:
From the Nutanix Volumes Administration Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):
“To isolate iSCSI traffic on a dedicated network, configure the Data Services IP with an IP address on the isolated network. This ensures that all iSCSI traffic between external hosts and the Nutanix cluster is routed over the specified network, providing network isolation as required.”
[:, Nutanix Volumes Administration Guide, Version 6.0, Section: “Configuring iSCSI for Nutanix Volumes” (Nutanix Portal)., Nutanix Certified Professional - Unified Storage (NCP-US) Study Guide, Section: “Nutanix Volumes Network Configuration”., ]