NCP‐MCA_1 - itnett/FTD02H-N GitHub Wiki
To create a more comprehensive and concise "exam cram" cheat sheet similar to the one you provided, I'll focus on structuring the information to highlight the key facts, terms, and actionable insights for the Nutanix Certified Professional - Multicloud Automation (NCP-MCA) 6.5 exam. I'll use clear tables and bullet points to capture the most important details.
Nutanix NCP-MCA 6.5 Exam Cram Sheet
Section 1: Automation Concepts and Principles
| Concept | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Blueprints | - Visual representation of automated deployments. |
| - Define infrastructure, applications, and workflows. | |
| - Use for multi-cloud, multi-tier application deployments. | |
| Playbooks | - Automate repetitive tasks. |
| - Triggered by events, alerts, or manual actions. | |
| - Utilize X-Play for no-code automation. | |
| Triggers and Actions | - Triggers: Events that start automation (e.g., alerts, schedules). |
| - Actions: Tasks executed in response (e.g., VM creation, notifications). | |
| Event-Driven Automation | - Automates workflows based on specific events. |
| - Utilize playbooks with conditional branches (if/else logic). | |
| Nutanix Calm Integration | - Integrates with third-party ITSM tools like ServiceNow. |
| - Supports both manual and automated task execution. |
Section 2: Deploy and Configure Calm and Related Components
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Nutanix Calm | - Central platform for application automation and orchestration. |
| - Use blueprints to define infrastructure and application deployment. | |
| - Supports self-service portals for end-users. | |
| Self-Service Portal | - Allows users to deploy pre-approved blueprints. |
| - Supports custom roles and permissions. | |
| AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor) | - Recommended hypervisor for Calm deployments due to tight integration. |
| ServiceNow Integration | - Provides ITSM integration for automation workflows. |
| - Facilitates incident management and service requests. |
Section 3: Validate Blueprints, Playbooks, and Automation Settings
| Validation Steps | Details |
|---|---|
| Blueprint Validation | - Verify all dependencies and configurations are set. |
| - Check for errors in tasks, scripts, or pre/post-create actions. | |
| Playbook Validation | - Ensure triggers and actions are correctly configured. |
| - Test all branches and conditional logic paths. | |
| Automation Settings Check | - Confirm that all alert policies are in place for triggering playbooks. |
| - Verify integration settings (e.g., ServiceNow, email notifications). |
Key Protocols and Ports for Nutanix Automation
| Port Number | Protocol | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9440 | HTTPS | Nutanix Prism Central web console. |
| 8443 | HTTPS | Nutanix Calm API access and integration. |
| 22 | SSH | Remote management and scripting access. |
| 443 | HTTPS | Nutanix files access and management. |
Troubleshooting Tips: Common Issues and Resolutions
| Issue | Possible Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Blueprint Deployment Fails | Incorrect configurations or missing tasks. | Review task dependencies and scripts. |
| Playbook Not Triggering | Misconfigured triggers or alert policies. | Validate alert policies and trigger conditions. |
| Integration Errors (e.g., ServiceNow) | Incorrect API keys or integration settings. | Verify API keys, endpoint URLs, and user permissions. |
Quick Commands and Shortcuts
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
calm create bp |
Creates a new blueprint in Calm. |
calm launch bp |
Launches a blueprint deployment. |
calm update bp |
Updates an existing blueprint. |
calm delete bp |
Deletes a blueprint. |
Exam Tips:
- Focus on Automation Concepts: Understand how blueprints, playbooks, and triggers work together to automate tasks.
- Hands-On Practice: Use the Nutanix Community Edition or Test Drive environment to practice creating and managing blueprints and playbooks.
- Memorize Key Ports and Protocols: Know the common ports and protocols used in Nutanix environments.
- Review Integration Scenarios: Be familiar with third-party integration (e.g., ServiceNow) and how it ties into Calm workflows.
- Test Different Scenarios: Create playbooks with multiple triggers and actions to understand the flow of event-driven automation.
Study Resources:
- Nutanix Calm Admin Operations Guide v3.6.0
- Prism Central Guide vPC 2022.6 and 2024.1
- AHV Admin Guide v6.8
- Nutanix NCP-MCA Exam Blueprint
Would you like to continue with another objective, or is there a specific topic you'd like to dive deeper into?
Here's an extremely comprehensive cheat sheet for the Nutanix Certified Professional - Multicloud Automation (NCP-MCA) 6.5 exam, formatted in GitHub Wiki markdown format. I've included various emojis and formatting elements to make it engaging and easy to follow.
📝 Nutanix NCP-MCA 6.5 Exam Cram Sheet
🎯 Objective 1: Describe and Differentiate Automation Concepts and Principles
📘 1.1 Determine and Apply the Steps Required to Automate a Given Manual Process
-
Key Concepts:
- 🛠️ Automation Principles: Understand how to break down manual processes into logical steps for automation.
- 📂 Self-Service Library: Reusable automation tasks and scripts.
- 🌐 Blueprints: Visual models that define infrastructure and application deployment workflows.
- 🔄 Pre-Provisioning Steps: Preparatory tasks that occur before deployment (e.g., setting up environments, resource allocation).
-
🛠️ Tools to Know:
- 🧩 Nutanix Calm Blueprints: Used to define and automate multi-tier applications across different environments.
- 🔍 Playbooks: Automate tasks triggered by events or schedules.
- 🚦 Triggers and Actions: Define when a playbook should run and what it should do.
- 🛑 Custom Alert Policies: Create notifications that trigger specific playbooks or actions.
-
📚 Key Resources:
-
💡 Quick Tips:
- 🚀 Focus on the sequence: break down tasks into pre-creation, execution, and post-deletion.
- 📐 Practice creating blueprints, associating them with specific tasks and playbooks.
- 🔄 Learn to set triggers for events and configure playbook actions accordingly.
📘 1.2 Demonstrate an Understanding of Event-Driven Playbooks
-
Key Concepts:
- ⚡ Event-Driven Automation: Automate workflows based on specific events (e.g., alerts, thresholds).
- 🏗️ X-Play: No-code automation tool to create workflows; involves setting triggers and defining actions.
- 📝 Playbook Steps: Sequence of actions in a playbook that dictates the automation flow.
- 🔀 Multi-Resource Automation: Apply a playbook across multiple virtual infrastructure resources.
-
🛠️ Tools to Know:
- 📝 Playbooks: Create event-driven playbooks using X-Play.
- 🛑 Alert Policies: Use custom alerts to trigger playbooks.
- 🔄 Branch Actions: Apply conditional logic (if/else) to perform different actions based on conditions.
-
📚 Key Resources:
-
💡 Quick Tips:
- 👨💻 Practice creating playbooks that respond to specific alerts or conditions.
- 🏗️ Use X-Play to design workflows that can be triggered by multiple event types.
- 📊 Familiarize yourself with branching actions for dynamic scenarios.
📘 1.3 Define the Components of X-Play
-
Key Concepts:
- 🧰 Action Gallery: Collection of predefined actions available for playbooks.
- 🖐️ Manual Triggers: Playbooks that require user initiation.
- 🚨 Alerts and Actions: Alerts that trigger actions within X-Play.
-
🛠️ Tools to Know:
- 📜 X-Play Overview: Understand the components and usage of X-Play.
- 📝 Playbook Actions: Learn various actions that can be performed with X-Play (e.g., VM actions, notifications).
- 🛠️ Manual Parameters Configuration: Set up parameters that users need to provide before running a playbook.
-
📚 Key Resources:
-
💡 Quick Tips:
- 🔍 Explore the X-Play interface; get familiar with different actions available.
- ✍️ Practice configuring playbooks with manual parameters.
- 🚨 Understand how to create and manage alerts to trigger X-Play actions.
🚀 Objective 2: Deploy and Configure Calm and Related Components
📘 2.1 Deploy and Configure Nutanix Calm and Related Components
-
Key Concepts:
- 🖥️ Nutanix Calm: Platform for application automation and orchestration.
- 🌍 Blueprints: Define infrastructure and application deployment across multiple environments.
- 👥 Self-Service Portal: Allows users to deploy pre-approved blueprints; supports custom roles and permissions.
- 🖧 AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor): Recommended hypervisor for Calm deployments due to tight integration.
- 🔄 ServiceNow Integration: Provides ITSM integration for automation workflows (e.g., incident management).
-
🛠️ Tools to Know:
- 🧩 Blueprint Designer: Visual tool to create and manage Calm blueprints.
- 🔍 ServiceNow API Integration: Set up ITSM workflows using Calm and ServiceNow integration.
- 🛠️ Calm Self-Service: Allows users to launch and manage their own applications through blueprints.
-
📚 Key Resources:
-
💡 Quick Tips:
- 📘 Focus on mastering the blueprint designer tool to create efficient, reusable application deployment models.
- 🏗️ Learn how to set up and configure Calm to work with multiple environments (e.g., AHV, AWS, Azure).
- 🔄 Understand how Calm integrates with third-party tools like ServiceNow for comprehensive automation workflows.
🛠️ Useful Commands and Shortcuts
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
calm create bp |
Creates a new blueprint in Calm. |
calm launch bp |
Launches a blueprint deployment. |
calm update bp |
Updates an existing blueprint. |
calm delete bp |
Deletes a blueprint. |
📡 Key Protocols and Ports for Nutanix Automation
| Port Number | Protocol | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9440 | HTTPS | Nutanix Prism Central web console. |
| 8443 | HTTPS | Nutanix Calm API access and integration. |
| 22 | SSH | Remote management and scripting access. |
| 443 | HTTPS | Nutanix files access and management. |
🛠️ Troubleshooting Tips: Common Issues and Resolutions
| Issue | Possible Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| **Blueprint |
Deployment Fails** | Incorrect configurations or missing tasks. | Review task dependencies and scripts. | | Playbook Not Triggering | Misconfigured triggers or alert policies. | Validate alert policies and trigger conditions. | | Integration Errors (e.g., ServiceNow) | Incorrect API keys or integration settings. | Verify API keys, endpoint URLs, and user permissions. |
📋 Study Resources:
- 📘 Nutanix Calm Admin Operations Guide v3.6.0
- 📘 Prism Central Guide vPC 2022.6 and 2024.1
- 📘 AHV Admin Guide v6.8
- 📘 Nutanix NCP-MCA Exam Blueprint
🧩 Exam Tips:
- Focus on Automation Concepts: Understand how blueprints, playbooks, and triggers work together to automate tasks.
- Hands-On Practice: Use the Nutanix Community Edition or Test Drive environment to practice creating and managing blueprints and playbooks.
- Memorize Key Ports and Protocols: Know the common ports and protocols used in Nutanix environments.
- Review Integration Scenarios: Be familiar with third-party integration (e.g., ServiceNow) and how it ties into Calm workflows.
- Test Different Scenarios: Create playbooks with multiple triggers and actions to understand the flow of event-driven automation.
This cheat sheet covers the key points and detailed information for preparing for the Nutanix NCP-MCA 6.5 exam. Let me know if you'd like to continue with another objective or need further clarification on any specific topic!