Exam Objectives and Commonly Referenced Documentation for FlashBlade Implementation Specialist Certification

Certifications
Audience
Public
Product
FlashBlade
FlashArray
FlashStack
Evergreen
Pure1
Portworx
Source Type
Documentation

Domain 1: Pre-Installation/Upgrade (Weightage 18%)

Exam Objectives

Applicable Documents and Resources

1.01 - Verify the configuration and environment prerequisites for installation

Objective Subtopics:

  • Understand hardware requirements

  • Verify power requirements of FlashBlades

  • Verify rack requirements

  • Verify cable requirements

  • Verify data uplink requirements

1.02 - Apply procedural concepts to perform pre-installation tasks

Objective Subtopics:

  • Perform verification of hardware delivery

  • Verify the correct accessory kit is on site

  • Review deliverables against requirements

  • Verify power changes between models

  • Validate software availability

  • Understand hardware relocation procedures

1.03 - Apply procedural concepts to validate the Pure Engagement Request (PER) or the Implementation Workbook (IWB) data (PER is specific to Pure employees and IWB is specific to partners)

Objective Subtopics:

  • Identify network requirements for FlashBlade functionalities (e.g., management, replication, VLAN, etc.)

  • Understand network configuration and sub-networks (includes LAG configuration)

  • Understand proxy configuration

  • Verify the array name syntax

  • Understand DNS, NTP, and SMTP

  • Configure Out-of-Band and In-Band Management

Domain 2: FlashBlade Single and Multi-Chassis Installation (Weightage 22%)

Exam Objectives

Applicable Documents and Resources

2.01 - Demonstrate how to unpack, rack, and stack a FlashBlade chassis at the customer site

Objective Subtopics:

  • Determine how to unpack and install blades

  • Differentiate between XFM 3200 and 8400 when unpacking, racking, and stacking

  • Understand storage configuration rules

  • Confirm contents of accessory kit when unpacking

  • Determine hardware/cabling requirements for both single- and multi-chassis

  • Differentiate between Flashblade//E compute and expansion chassis (EC and EX, respectively)

  • Understand rules for heterogeneous DFM population

2.02 - Prepare and execute the configuration and setup of FlashBlade

Objective Subtopics:

  • Pre-install component software upgrade

  • Have knowledge of the required code upgrade "hops" to align the various hardware components on a consistent software level

  • Determine how and when to upgrade Purity

  • Identify how to perform the initial set-up of the FlashBlade

  • Determine uplink port layout

  • Determine downlink port layout

Domain 3: Upgrades, Conversions, and Expansions (Weightage 38%)

Exam Objectives

Applicable Documents and Resources

3.01 - Non-disruptively prepare and complete conversion and the addition of a new chassis to an existing multi-chassis production system

Objective Subtopics:

  • Identify components required for a conversion

  • Determine how to convert a single-chassis to a multi-chassis

  • Determine how to convert a multi-chassis to a 6+ chassis FlashBlade

  • Determine how to convert from First-Gen FlashBlade to a FlashBlade//S

  • Determine how to add an extra chassis to an existing multi-chassis-ready cluster

  • Understand EX/EC chassis add to //E based on DFM sizes

  • Check MC links

3.02 - Prepare and complete the addition of a new blade/DFM to an existing FlashBlade system

Objective Subtopics:

  • Determine the overall blade addition process

  • Have awareness of DFM types and their dependencies

  • Differentiate between capacity considerations between different systems

  • Determine how to add DFMs to existing blades

3.03 - Safely prepare and complete the evacuation and upgrade of a blade/DFM from an existing FlashBlade system

Objective Subtopics:

  • Differentiate how to properly evacuate/upgrade a blade/DFM from different FlashBlade models

  • Identify how to properly move blades

  • Consolidate DFMs

  • Relocate chassis, blade, DFM

Domain 4: Post-Installation/Upgrade

Exam Objectives

Applicable Documents and Resources

4.01 - Apply procedural concepts needed to verify successful install/upgrade

Objective Subtopics:

  • Run healthchecks

  • Verify that external connectivity is functional

  • Configure networking (Data VIPs, LAG, VLANs)

  • Set Forward Error Correction (FEC)

4.02 - Perform a high-level product and GUI walkthrough

Objective Subtopics:

  • Configure file systems locally and through Fusion

  • Perform a GUI walk through with the customer

  • Test host connection

  • Verify LDAP authentication

  • Create a Fusion fleet and add additional systems to the fleet

4.03 - Troubleshoot install/upgrade issues

Objective Subtopics:

  • Troubleshoot network issues (LACP, VLAN, LLDP, FEC)

  • Verify compatibility with cabling

  • Troubleshoot basic hardware issues