Smart Tiering in Nutanix Files, part of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), allows infrequently accessed (Cold) data to be tiered to external storage, such as a public cloud (e.g., AWS S3, Azure Blob), to free up space on the primary cluster (as noted in Question 34). Configuring Smart Tiering requires setting up a connection to the external storage target, which involves providing credentials and connectivity details.

Smart Tiering requires a connection to an external storage target, such as a cloud provider. The access key and secret key are mandatory to authenticate Nutanix Files with the target (e.g., an S3 bucket), enabling secure data tiering. Without these credentials, the tiering configuration cannot be completed, making them a mandatory criterion.

Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:

From the Nutanix Files Administration Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):

“To configure Smart Tiering in Nutanix Files, you must provide the access key and secret key for the external storage target (e.g., AWS S3, Azure Blob). These credentials are mandatory to authenticate with the cloud provider and enable data tiering to the specified target.”