NCP‐MCA_20 - itnett/FTD02H-N GitHub Wiki

Here's a focused cram sheet for the Nutanix Certified Professional - Multicloud Automation (NCP-MCA) 6.5 exam, specifically targeting Nutanix Cluster Check (NCC). This cram sheet distills the essential points and knowledge you need to quickly review and solidify your understanding of NCC, as it applies to the exam.

NCP-MCA 6.5 Exam Cram Sheet: Nutanix Cluster Check (NCC)

1. What is NCC?

  • Nutanix Cluster Check (NCC) is a cluster-resident diagnostic tool used to assess the health of a Nutanix cluster.
  • Included: Available out-of-the-box with Nutanix software.
  • Purpose:
    • Identifies configurations that are qualified and recommended by Nutanix.
    • Runs proactive checks to detect issues before they impact cluster performance.
    • Raises alerts or automatically creates Nutanix Support cases if problems are detected.

2. Running NCC Health Checks

  • Two Methods:
    1. Using Prism Element (GUI):
      • Steps:
        • Log into Prism Element and navigate to the Health dashboard.
        • Click on Actions > Run NCC Checks.
        • Select the checks to run:
          • All checks (330 available checks).
          • Checks with past failures or warnings.
          • Specific checks (select individually).
        • Click Run to start the health check.
    2. Using the Command Line Interface (CLI):
      • Steps:
        • Log into a Controller VM (CVM).
        • Run the command: 
          nutanix@cvm$ ncc health_checks run_all
        • This command runs all the health checks available in NCC.

3. Types of NCC Checks

  • Check Types:
    • PASS: Component is healthy.
    • FAIL: Component is unhealthy; immediate action is required.
    • WARN: Potential issues; investigation is recommended.
    • INFO: Informational, no specific action required.
    • ERR: Error in executing the check; may not necessarily indicate a cluster issue.

4. Upgrading NCC

  • Why Upgrade?: To ensure the latest health checks and fixes are available.

  • Methods:

    1. GUI Method:
      • Log into Prism Central or Prism Element as an admin.
      • Navigate to Settings > Upgrade Software > NCC.
      • Click Upgrade if an update is available and confirm.
    2. CLI Method:
      • Download the NCC installation file from the Nutanix Support Portal.
      • Transfer the file to a Controller VM.
      • Run: 
        nutanix@cvm$ chmod u+x ./ncc_installer_filename.sh
nutanix@cvm$ ./ncc_installer_filename.sh

5. Scheduling NCC Checks

  • Automated Check Configuration:
    • Navigate to the Health dashboard.
    • Click Actions > Set NCC Frequency.
    • Set the frequency: every 4 hours, daily, or weekly.
    • Results can be sent via email to configured recipients.

6. Log Collection with NCC

  • Methods:
    1. Via Prism Element:
      • Go to the Health dashboard.
      • Select Actions > Collect Logs.
      • Choose the nodes and configure settings for log collection.
      • Download logs after the collection completes.
    2. Using Logbay (CLI):
      • Collect logs: 
        nutanix@cvm$ logbay collect
      • Upload logs to Nutanix Support: 
        nutanix@cvm$ logbay collect --dst=ftp://nutanix -c <case_number>

7. Key Commands for NCC

  • Run all checks: 
    ncc health_checks run_all
  • Check NCC version: 
    ncc --version
  • Display help: 
    ncc -help
  • Run specific checks: 
    ncc health_checks --plugin_list="check_name1,check_name2"

8. Alert-Triggered Log Collection (ATLC)

  • Definition: Automatically collects logs when an alert is triggered, reducing manual intervention and accelerating troubleshooting.

9. Best Practices for Using NCC

  • Run Regular Health Checks: Set a schedule for regular health checks to maintain cluster health.
  • Upgrade Regularly: Ensure NCC is up-to-date to leverage the latest checks and fixes.
  • Monitor Alerts: Keep track of alerts and warnings generated by NCC to proactively address potential issues.
  • Review Logs: Use the log collection features to gather detailed information for troubleshooting.

10. Exam Tips Related to NCC

  • Familiarize Yourself with NCC Usage: Understand both GUI and CLI methods to run checks and collect logs.
  • Understand Check Types: Know what each check type (PASS, FAIL, WARN, INFO, ERR) signifies and how to respond.
  • Know the Upgrade Process: Be aware of how to perform NCC upgrades through both the GUI and CLI.
  • Prepare for Troubleshooting: Be ready to answer questions on how to use NCC and Logbay for collecting logs and troubleshooting.

Conclusion

Mastering the use of NCC, understanding its checks, commands, and processes, is crucial for the NCP-MCA exam. Make sure you are comfortable running NCC checks from both Prism Element and the CLI, know how to interpret check results, and can handle log management and upgrades efficiently.

Review these points regularly, and you'll be well-prepared for any NCC-related questions on the exam! 🎯📘

Here is a focused cram sheet for the Nutanix Certified Professional - Multicloud Automation (NCP-MCA) 6.5 exam, covering the detailed content you provided. This cram sheet is designed to help you quickly review and reinforce your understanding of key concepts related to licensing, managing user roles, configuring infrastructure, and maintaining Nutanix clusters.

NCP-MCA 6.5 Exam Cram Sheet

1. Installing or Updating a License

  • License Manager: An independent service in Nutanix clusters, used to manage and update licenses.
  • Prism Element vs. Prism Central:
    • Prism Element: Manages licenses for a single cluster.
    • Prism Central: Manages licenses for all clusters.
  • Steps to Update a License in Prism Element:
    1. Navigate to Licensing: Click the Settings icon > Licensing in the General section.
    2. Update License: Click Update License.
    3. Download Cluster Summary File: Click the Download link; the file is a .txt format.
    4. Upload to Nutanix Support Portal: Go to the Manage Licenses page and upload the cluster summary file.
    5. Download License Summary File: After updating, download the new license file.
    6. Upload License Summary File: Return to License Manager in Prism and upload the updated file.

2. Managing User Roles and Permissions

  • Creating Local User Accounts in Prism Central:
    • Default Admin Account: Cannot be deleted or modified except for basic details (name, email, etc.).
    • Custom User Accounts:
      • Can have names, emails, passwords, languages, and roles updated.
      • Can be deleted.
    • Roles in Prism Central:
      • User Admin: Can view information, perform any administrative task, and create/modify user accounts.
      • Prism Central Admin: Can view information and perform administrative tasks but cannot create/modify user accounts.
    • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):
      • RBAC allows defining permissions at a granular level with both built-in and custom roles.
      • Accessed and configured only in Prism Central.
      • Ten built-in roles include Super Admin, Self-Service Admin, Prism Admin, Project Admin, VPC Admin, Network Infra Admin, Prism Viewer, Operator, Developer, and Consumer.

3. Upgrading the Platform Using Life Cycle Manager (LCM)

  • Performing an LCM Inventory:

    • Purpose: View installed software, firmware versions, last update times, and available updates.
    • Connected Cluster:
      1. Go to LCM dashboard in Prism Central.
      2. Click Inventory > Proceed to start the inventory.
    • Dark Site (No Internet Connection):
      1. Download Software Bundles: From Nutanix Support Portal.
      2. Extract Bundles: To a web server.
      3. Connect Server to LCM: So LCM can discover the software.

  • Enable LCM Auto Inventory: Allows automatic inventory checks in the background.

  • Upgrade Order:

    1. Prism Central Clusters: Perform LCM inventory > Upgrade LCM > Run NCC > Upgrade Prism Central.
    2. Prism Element Clusters: Perform LCM inventory > Upgrade LCM > Run NCC > Upgrade remaining software (AOS, AHV, etc.).
    3. Return to Prism Central: Upgrade additional services (Calm, Files, Objects, etc.).

4. Redundancy and Fault Tolerance

  • Redundancy Factor (RF):
    • RF2: Protects against one node or disk failure.
    • RF3: Protects against two nodes or disks failure.
  • Replication Factor: Configures how many copies of the data are stored across the cluster to ensure data resiliency.
  • Fault Tolerance Levels:
    • Node Level: RF2 protects against one failure; RF3 protects against two.
    • Block Level: Higher levels of RF and erasure coding support across racks.

5. Entering and Exiting Maintenance Mode

  • Entering Maintenance Mode:
    1. Navigate to the Hardware dashboard in Prism Element.
    2. Select the host and click Enter Maintenance Mode.
    3. Confirm action by clicking Enter Maintenance Mode in the popup.
  • Tasks Performed in Maintenance Mode:
    • Migrating VMs, powering off pinned VMs, shutting down the CVM.

6. Stopping and Starting a Cluster

  • Stopping a Cluster:
    1. Update NCC: Ensure you are running the latest version.
    2. Run a Full NCC Check: Resolve any issues before proceeding.
    3. Five Stages to Stop a Cluster: Follow the exact sequence provided in the Nutanix documentation.
  • Starting a Cluster:
    • Perform the reverse steps of the shutdown process.

7. Adding and Removing Nodes from a Cluster

  • Adding a Node:
    1. Log into Prism Element: Go to Settings > Expand Cluster.
    2. Select Hosts: Review and configure IP addresses and host details.
    3. Choose Node Type: Select HCI or storage-only.
    4. Configure Networking: Set up uplinks and vSwitches.
    5. Finalize Expansion: Configure hypervisor image and click Expand Cluster.
  • Removing a Node:
    • Reclaim Licenses: Make sure to reclaim licenses before removing.
    • Data Migration: Data is automatically migrated to maintain resiliency.
    • Power Off Guest VMs: Ensure all VMs are powered off before removal.

8. Configuring Supporting Infrastructure

  • Directory Services: Configuring for AD, LDAP, and SAML-based Identity Providers.
  • SSL Certificates: Installing and managing SSL certificates for secure communication.
  • RBAC Configuration: Defining granular permissions using both built-in and custom roles in Prism Central.

Final Tips for NCP-MCA Exam Preparation

  1. Familiarize Yourself with Nutanix Tools: Be comfortable using Prism Element and Prism Central for licensing, upgrades, and maintenance tasks.
  2. Understand Licensing Processes: Know the steps for updating licenses, managing licenses across clusters, and using the License Manager.
  3. Review LCM and Maintenance Procedures: Be aware of the steps for upgrading and maintaining Nutanix clusters using Life Cycle Manager.
  4. Practice Role and User Management: Understand how to create, modify, and assign roles to users, and the use of RBAC for access control.
  5. Be Clear on Redundancy and Resiliency Concepts: Remember the differences between redundancy factors, replication factors, and fault tolerance levels.
  6. Hands-On Practice: Use Nutanix Community Edition or a test environment to get hands-on experience with these configurations and procedures.

By mastering these key concepts, you'll be well-prepared for the NCP-MCA 6.5 exam. Good luck! 🚀📘