Prep for: NetApp Implementation Engineer - Data Protection | Exam: NS0-528

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A place to put some notes on the NCIE - DP.

I need to do the NCIE - DP (NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer - Data Protection Specialist) again, to renew my NCDA which expires April 2025. Last time I did the NCIE - DP was back in November 2016.

Note: You can find your certification history here: https://cp.certmetrics.com/netapp (also can schedule an exam from this site.)

You need an active NCDA before you can attempt the NCIE - DP!


Main Page

The main page -

Implementation Engineer Data Protection Certification Program | NetApp

- does not have massive amounts of information on the exam, other than:

  • THIS EXAM VERIFIES THAT:
    • You should be able to do these tasks
      • Create backup schedules and policies
      • Implement interdependencies
      • Translate business requirements into policies
    • You should be familiar with these tools
      • SnapCenter, BlueXP, System manager
      • AIQ-DA, AIQUM, HWU, IMT, CI/CS, fPolicy
      • SSH, Ping, Traceroute, CLI
  • WHAT YOU WILL BE TESTED ON:
    • Domain 1. Data Protection Solutions
      • Data protection solutions
      • Design documentation solutions 
      • Solution dependencies
    • Domain 2. NetApp ONTAP Core Data Protection Features
      • Knowledge of data protection or data redundancy on an ONTAP system
      • Data efficiencies as they relate to data protection
      • How to deploy data protection solutions in a hybrid cloud
    • Domain 3. NetApp Data Protection Software
      • Deploy NetApp data protection software
      • Administer NetApp data protection software
      • Data protection solutions for Kubernetes applications *
    • Domain 4. NetApp ONTAP Business Continuity Solutions
      • SnapMirror active sync
      • SVM-DR operations
    • Domain 5. Troubleshooting and Testing
      • Troubleshoot data protection configurations
      • Disaster Recovery procedures
      • Data restore procedures
Note: Reading the above "What You Will Be Tested On" it is still mostly ONTAP

Preparation

The preparation materials are a bit sparse.

There is this 17:53 minute WBT (Web Based Training) course -

Certification Preparation Session: NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer Data Protection Specialist

- but it seems a little out of date, and that's it!

So we need to look at official documentation sources to fill in any gaps in our knowledge. Links to documentation below. There is a lot of documentation down there but you're only going to look at stuff you feel weak on. Stuff you know well and have good experience on, you can ignore.

Sometimes it's good to take the test when expecting to fail, just to understand what the questions will be like, and you never know, you might just pass. Alas, there is the exorbitant fee for these certification tests - all vendors are the same - which is why I've often thought certification tests are a bit of a racket to make money ... also a tool to tell you about new features you might not be using (which is why the most experienced people can fail when encountering many new features and products.) Understandably, people don't want to waste time and money failing. And certifications repeat endlessly (get certification, wait till it is close to expiring, then repeat.)

Above I've highlighted what I think are the most important areas to focus on. NetApp people generally know ONTAP very well, and the knowledgebase is so vast, so I'd skim it at best. Since this is the NCIE-DP exam, SnapCenter, and BlueXP (highlighted orange) will probably be weakest for most people. Also worth covering the highlighted yellow areas. But I still expect the exam to be heavily ONTAP focused.

Also, the Technical Reports have excellent information in:

Labs on Demand

Note: Labs listed here aren't necessarily the best ones to spend your time on for the NCIE-DP, just ones I randomly picked out as looking to be of interest.

Often the best way to learn is hands on. Reading documentation can be a bit, in-one-ear-and-out-the-other. There are many NetApp lab on demand labs for non-customers (Test Drives), customers and employees and these are definitely a more fun and productive way to learn than raw documentation. Focus on "Data Protection" labs like:
  • Protecting Your Data Estate with BlueXP and a 3-2-1 Backup Strategy
How to Align the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy with NetApp Cloud Backup (BlueXP Backup)
  • Getting Started with BlueXP Disaster Recovery as a Service v1.0 (alas, this lab didn't seem to be working when I tried twice)


FY25 PS Data Protection Professional & Expert

In NetApp University - https://netapp.sabacloud.com/ - there are also these curriculums that are worth checking out. They are passed with a combination of certifications, WBTs (web based training) and ILTs (Instructor Led Training):
  • FY25 Professional Services Data Protection Professional
    • Required NetApp Certifications (Complete 1 of 1)
      • NetApp Certified Data Administrator, ONTAP
    • Required ONTAP Learning (Optional)
      • Introduction to ONTAP (ILT)
      • ONTAP Cluster Fundamentals (ILT)
      • ONTAP Cluster Administration (ILT)
    • Recommended Data Protection Learning (Optional)
      • ONTAP Data Protection Fundamentals (WBT)
      • ONTAP Data Protection Administration (ILT)
  • FY25 Professional Services Data Protection Expert
    • Required NetApp Certifications (Complete 2 of 2)
      • NetApp Certified Data Administrator, ONTAP
      • NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer - Data Protection Specialist
    • Required ONTAP Learning (Optional)
      • Introduction to ONTAP (ILT)
      • ONTAP Cluster Fundamentals (ILT)
      • ONTAP Cluster Administration (ILT)
    • Recommended Data Protection Learning (Optional)
      • ONTAP Data Protection Fundamentals (WBT)
      • ONTAP Data Protection Administration (ILT)
      • ONTAP MetroCluster FC Installation (ILT)
      • ONTAP MetroCluster IP Implementation (ILT)




Exam Experience (Written After the Above and Below)

My exam experience.

I passed first time 😊. My prep had been mainly a practice test, K8s Master Class (not super useful for the test) and the ONTAP Data Protection Fundamentals (WBT). Otherwise just relying on my experience. Scored 74% with passing score being 65% (81% Data Protection Solutions, 78% NetApp ONTAP Data Protection Features, 75% NetApp Data Protection Software, 61% NetApp ONTAP Business Continuity Solutions, 75% Troubleshooting and Testing). It was one of the harder multiple guess sessions I've done, I used up all 90 minutes.

My memory isn't great (which is why I write blog posts) but let's see what I remembered (this is going to be all over the place) ...
  • ONTAP version 9.14.1 was mentioned a few times (also 9.12.1)
  • One question was clearly either MCFC or MCIP with the only differentiator the maximum distance the solutions provide. MCFC max distance is 300km. MCIP max distance 700km (this information is in HWU under the link 'MetroCluster ISL Connections')
  • One question mentioned Spot Security and I didn't even know if it was a product. Yes, it is: Spot Security: Detect, analyze & remediate cloud risks | Spot.io: "With Spot Security, you can ensure secure configurations, remove vulnerabilities and threats, maintain compliance, manage access rights and protect your business-critical assets — all with one integrated solution for your cloud infrastructure."
  • I couldn't clearly remember the definition of what Astra Control is: "Astra Control is a Kubernetes application data lifecycle management solution that simplifies operations for stateful applications. Easily protect, back up, and migrate Kubernetes workloads, and instantly create working application clones."
  • I couldn't remember the volume snapshot autodelete modify options. For more, read here: volume snapshot autodelete modify (netapp.com)
  • A SnapMirror destination volume can contain up to 1019 Snapshot copies. Worth reading this KB: SnapMirror destination volume has reached maximum number of Snapshots - NetApp Knowledge Base
  • There was something on VMware Cloud in AWS. 2 instances, do you need 2 instances of BlueXP? (I'm not 100% sure but thought you'd only need 1.) Some useful reading: BlueXP disaster recovery service for BC with VMware Cloud on AWS and FSx for ONTAP - NetApp Community
  • There was something about SnapCenter protection with SAP HANA. I was pretty sure the requirements were: plug-in for UNIX and plug-in for SAP HANA. Worth covering the SnapCenter Software documentation to be aware of the various plugins.
  • IPsec to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks: Configure IP security (IPsec) over wire encryption.
  • SVM-DR question. "Source volume has snapshot-only tiering, what is supported on the destination. Pick one of: all, none, snapshot-only, auto." I didn't initially get this question at all. The destination might not even be FabricPool enabled, or maybe you'd want to tier all, doesn't make sense having only one option, but then it is SVM-DR.... Then I came across this KB: How to modify the tiering policy for an SVM DR destination volume which makes me think the answer is snapshot-only (same as the source.)
  • Volume in nvfailed state. From this KB - Volume in nvfailed state due to NVRAM not in sync - the answer looks to be to modify the -in-nvfailed-state option in diag mode (that was not my answer.)
  • volume snapshot partial-file-restore, you need "Starting Byte Offset (Multiple of 4096)" and "Number of Bytes to Restore (Multiple of 4096)". Check out: volume snapshot partial-restore-file (netapp.com)

THE END

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Practice Q&A

These are just practice question, not real questions from the exam. This is not Test King!

You should understand the answers below. If you do not understand the answers, then seek understanding.

Nothing for BlueXP, CI & CS down here. I think BlueXP, CI & CS would be most peoples' weakest areas.

  • Which two ONTAP technologies only replicate the changes to WAFL blocks of a volume?
    • SnapVault
    • SnapMirror
      • Wrong: Snapshot copies, NDMP
  • You deploy a mission-critical application for a healthcare customer that requires zero data loss. Which solution meets this requirement?
    • SnapMirror Synchronous
      • Wrong: MetroCluster, SyncMirror, Snapshot copies
  • A volume on a FabricPool aggregate consumes 10TB of the performance tier and 90TB of the cloud tier. A SnapMirror copy needs to be created on a FabricPool-enabled peer cluster. How much data is transferred during SnapMirror initialization?
    • 100TB
      • Wrong: 10TB, 90TB, 200TB
  • A customer deploys an 8-node FMC. In this scenario, which two types of data does the Configuration Replication Service (CRS) replicate?
    • SVM configuration
    • User-created job schedules
      • Wrong: IPspaces, drive assignments
  • You deploy a primary and secondary ONTAP cluster. You want to setup an intercluster SnapMirror relationship between the primary and secondary sites. Which 2 actions must you take to accomplish this?
    • You must peer the primary and secondary clusters
    • You must peer the SVMs
      • Wrong: You must configure the Snapshot schedule. You must enable NDMP.
  • Which two NetApp technologies enable synchronous replication of data between two remote sites?
    • SnapMirror
    • MetroCluster
      • Wrong: SnapVault, SyncMirror
  • Which two policy types provide asynchronous replication?
    • vault
    • mirror-vault
      • Wrong: daily, hourly
  • SnapMirror Synchronous supports which 3 features?
    • Replication of application-created Snapshot copies
    • FC-NVMe
    • LUN clones and NVMe namespace clones
      • Wrong: Mixed SAN and NAS access. SVM DR.
  • Implementing a DR solution on a primary cluster. Need DR and archiving on the same destination volume. RPO is 1 hour. The solution must reduce secondary storage requirements and reduce network traffic on the WAN. Which NetApp replication technology satisfies these requirements?
    • SnapMirror
      • Wrong: SnapMirror Synchronous, MetroCluster, SyncMirror.
  • Which two cloud providers enable you to provision NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP as a SnapMirror destination?
    • AWS
    • Azure
      • Wrong: Rackspace, DigitalOcean
  • Which ONTAP feature enables automated tiering of data to low-cost object storage tiers, either on-prem or off-prem?
    • FabricPool
      • Wrong: Flash Pool, FlexCache, Flash Cache
  • A customer wants an RPO of 0 for one volume with ONTAP clusters at 2 locations. Which 2 solutions satisfy this requirement?
    • SM-S in Sync mode
    • SM-S in StrictSync mode
      • Wrong: FabricPool, SyncMirror
  • You have home directories on an on-prem ONTAP system. You want to store backups of these directories in the cloud. Which solution satisfies this requirement?
    • SnapMirror with a CVO destination
      • Wrong: FabricPool with Amazon S3 cloud tier. FabricPool with StorageGRID cloud tier. SnapMirror with a CVS destination.
  • Before a MetroCluster DR switchback, you must execute the MetroCluster heal command on the data and root aggregates. What does the "metrocluster heal -phase root-aggregates" command do?
    • Heals root aggregates by switching them back to the failed site and enabling the site to boot.
  • Following a disaster, a customer needs to activate a DR SVM:
    • From the destination cluster, break the SVM disaster recovery relationship
    • Start the destination SVM
  • You setup a SnapMirror relationship between two SVMs. The data in the source volume is unavailable. To activate the SnapMirror destination volume and enable data access:
    • Verify the status of the source and destination volumes
    • Perform a SnapMirror break operation
    • Configure the destination volume for data access
  • For a DR site you need to use a SnapMirror process on a SnapLock Compliance source volume. In this scenario, which feature does the destination volume support?
    • FlexClone
      • Wrong: FlexArray, SVM DR, load-sharing mirrors.
  • Setting up SnapLock. Which 2 statements are correct?
    • SnapLock licenses are issued on a per-node basis
    • Only a single SnapLock license is required to enable both SnapLock Compliance and SnapLock Enterprise functionality.
      • Wrong:
        • SnapLock Compliance and SnapLock Enterprise use different licenses to enable SnapLock functionality.
        • A SnapLock license is issued at a cluster level and not required for every node.
  • When you configure SnapLock, where do you initialize the ComplianceClock?
    • On each node that hosts a SnapLock aggregate.
  • A financial institution needs to store and commit files to a non-erasable, non-rewritable state. The institution must store the files either forever or for a designated retention period. Which ONTAP feature satisfies this requirement?
    • SnapLock
  • You need to setup a solution that complies with FIPS 140-2, supports a multi-cluster environment, and provides centralized management of encryption keys:
    • NVE with EKM using KMIP
      • Wrong:
        • NVE with OKM using KMIP
        • NSE with EKM using KMIP
        • NSE with OKM using KMIP
  • Oracle on AFF. You want to verify application-consistent backups are offloaded to the cloud. Solution?
    • SnapCenter
  • You want to use the cloud to backup Microsoft SQL DBs. Plan to use multiple cloud providers. Solution?
    • SnapCenter
    • CVO
      • Wrong: Cloud Sync, Flash Pool.
  • SVM DR with source and destination clusters in different network subnets. Which solution should you use considering "identity-preserve"?
    • Use SVM DR with "identity-preserve" parameter enabled and a SnapMirror policy with the "-discard-configs network" parameter
  • You need to implement NetApp SnapCenter in an existing VMware SRM environment. This environment runs the protected and recovery site vCenter Server instances in linked mode. How many instances of the SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere must you deploy?
    • 2
  • Using SnapMirror "global throttling" to restrict network bandwidth that SnapMirror uses for both incoming and outgoing transfers. Which 2 statements are correct?
    • Global throttling is enforced at a cluster level and works with the per-relationship throttle feature for SnapMirror.
    • Global throttling is not enforced until the combined bandwidth of per-relationship transfers exceeds the value of global throttle.
  • You want to modify an existing Snapshot copy schedule to enable more data granularity when you recover data after corruption or loss. Which two NetApp tools enable you to accomplish this task?
    • ONTAP System Manager
    • CLI
      • Wrong: AIQUM, SnapCenter
  • Two different DR recovery locations have production ONTAP systems. Which 2 NetApp system configurations do you use to protect the volumes?
    • SnapMirror in a fan-out topology
    • SnapMirror in a cascade topology
      • Wrong:
        • SVM DR in a fan-out topology
        • SVM DR in a single data center geo topology
ONTAP Data Protection Fundamentals: Knowledge Check
  • If a data protection relationship is between clusters, which path does replication data take?
    • intercluster network
  • How does the WAFL file system minimize storage space and performance overhead?
    • records only file changes since the latest Snapshot copy
  • What is a Snapshot copy in NetApp data protection solutions?
    • read-only, point-in-time image of a volume
  • What are three functions of SnapMirror Asynchronous?
    • periodically create NetApp Snapshot copies of data on one volume
    • copy the Snapshot copies to a destination volume, usually on another cluster
    • provide quick availability and restore operation of data from the time of the latest Snapshot copy
  • Which two statements about SM-S disaster recovery are true?
    • SM-S helps achieve a near-zero RTO
    • NetApp ONTAP System Manager can be used to create SM-S relationships
  • Which two statements about S3 SnapMirror are true?
    • ONTAP S3 buckets create backup buckets to ONTAP S3, StorageGRID, and Amazon S3
    • S3 SnapMirror create active mirrors to buckets in the same storage virtual machine
  • Which two statements about SnapMirror Business Continuity are true?
    • provides granular application protection
    • provides support for iSCSI and FC protocols
  • Which two features are provided by the MetroCluster business continuity solution?
    • complete cluster protection
    • support for FC or IP transport
  • By which method does unified replication enhance data protection?
    • combining mirror capabilities and vault capabilities
  • Which software provides application-consistent data protection for applications, databases, host file systems, and VMs running on ONTAP based systems?
    • SnapCenter
  • Which NetApp technology enables third-party backup software to facilitate asynchronous Snapshot replication from ONTAP software to object storage endpoints?
    • SnapMirror Cloud
  • By which method does Cloud Volumes ONTAP contribute to business continuity and disaster recovery?
    • enabling a secondary disaster recovery site in the public cloud

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