Pass the Nutanix Nutanix Certified Professional (NCP) NCP-DB Questions and answers with CertsForce

A Log Catchup gap in Nutanix Database Service (NDB) occurs when transaction logs are missing or corrupted, disrupting point-in-time restore (PITR) operations for cloning or database restoration via Time Machine. The NDB Time Machine Heal Snapshot feature addresses this by repairing snapshots to resolve such gaps.

Option A (By default the time machine auto-heal feature is enabled) is incorrect because the auto-heal feature is not enabled by default; it requires explicit configuration or manual invocation.

Option B (Manual Heal is only used when gaps in Log Catchup are detected once the operation has begun failing) is incorrect because manual heal can be initiated proactively or reactively, not solely after failure detection.

Option C is correct because a successful Time Machine Heal process restores the snapshot integrity, allowing PITR to span the previously gapped period.

Option D is correct as the auto-heal process, when enabled, runs every 5 minutes to detect and address healable conditions, aligning with NDB’s automated maintenance schedule.

Together, C and D reflect the operational mechanics of the Heal Snapshot feature.

References

Nutanix Database Service (NDB) User Guide, Chapter 5: Configuring Time Machines, Section: Healing Snapshot Gaps

Nutanix Support & Insights, Knowledge Base Article: "Resolving Log Catchup Gaps with Time Machine Heal"

Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5 Blueprint, Section 5: Protect Databases Using Time Machine

NDB allows creating and refreshing clones to a point in time using two primary methods:

B. Snapshots: NDB uses storage snapshots (e.g., via Nutanix Volumes or AHV) to capture the database state at a specific point. These snapshots can be used to create or refresh clones, providing a consistent recovery point.

D. Transaction logs: Transaction logs (e.g., PostgreSQL WAL, SQL Server logs) enable point-in-time recovery (PITR) by applying logs to a snapshot, allowing clones to be refreshed to a precise moment.

Other options are not supported for this purpose:

A. Full backups: Full backups are used for complete restores but are not optimized for frequent clone refreshes.

C. VM snapshots: VM-level snapshots (e.g., AHV snapshots) are not managed by NDB for database cloning, as they lack database consistency.

Thus, the verified answers are B and D, reflecting NDB’s clone refresh capabilities.

Official Nutanix Database Automation References

Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) course, Module 5: Data Protection and Recovery, Lesson 5.2: Managing Time Machines and Clones.

Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5 Knowledge Objectives, Section 5: Protect Databases Using NDB, Objective 5.2: Manage Clones (applicable to v6.10).

Nutanix NDB Administration Guide: "Clone Creation and Refresh" section.

For a One-Click Upgrade of an NDB environment with internet access, the patch should be downloaded directly within the NDB interface. The "Administrator > Maintenance" section of NDB provides an option to connect to the Nutanix download repository (e.g., https://download.nutanix.com) and download the latest patch or upgrade bundle automatically. This streamlined process ensures compatibility and simplifies the upgrade workflow. The One-Click Upgrade feature then applies the downloaded patch to update NDB components efficiently.

Other options are incorrect:

A. Download the patch from the Nutanix Support Portal and upload via the NDB CLI: This is suitable for dark sites but unnecessary with internet access, as NDB can download directly.

C. Open Prism Central and deploy the current version of NDB from the Apps and Marketplace section: This is for initial deployment, not upgrading an existing NDB instance.

D. Open Prism Element and use LCM to update the software: Lifecycle Manager (LCM) is for Nutanix cluster updates, not NDB-specific upgrades.

Thus, the verified answer is B, leveraging NDB’s built-in maintenance capabilities.

Official Nutanix Database Automation References

Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) course, Module 2: Deploying and Configuring an NDB Solution, Lesson 2.4: Updating NDB with Internet Access.

Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5 Knowledge Objectives, Section 2: Deploy and Configure an NDB Solution, Objective 2.3: Perform NDB Updates (applicable to v6.10).

Nutanix NDB Administration Guide: "One-Click Upgrade Process" section.

NDB sends notifications when alerts are generated via email. The email notifications can be configured to send to one or more recipients, and can be customized to include the alert severity, category, description, and resolution steps. The email notifications help to inform the database administrator and other stakeholders about the status and issues of the NDB-managed databases and operations.

NDB does not send notifications via SNMP, APIs, or Pulse. SNMP is a protocol for collecting and organizing information about managed devices on a network. APIs are interfaces for communicating and exchanging data between different applications or systems. Pulse is a feature of the Nutanix cluster that collects and sends diagnostic and usage data to Nutanix for analysis and support.

References:

Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 3: Nutanix Era Deployment, Lesson 3.2: Nutanix Era Deployment, slide 11.

Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 5: Nutanix Era Operations, Lesson 5.1: Nutanix Era Operations, slide 6.

Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 5: Nutanix Era Operations, Lesson 5.2: Nutanix Era Alerts and Notifications, slides 5-7.

This is because it allows the database to be refreshed at the exact time specified (9:30 PM) with the most recent data. The other options either perform the snapshot before the desired time or do not specify when the snapshot would occur. Please note that the exact answer might depend on the specific database system and its capabilities. Always refer to the database’s documentation for the most accurate information.

In Nutanix Era, an administrator can modify the Alert Severity level by navigating to the Alerts Policies from the dropdown menu. Once there, they can select the Policy that needs to be modified and set the desired severity level1. This allows the administrator to customize the alerts according to their requirements, ensuring that they are notified of the most critical events in their environment21.

The Era copy data management service includes several components, one of which is the Time Machine. The Time Machine is responsible for collecting logs and snapshots from the database123. This functionality allows for granular clone and refresh operations, making it a crucial part of the Nutanix Era’s database as a service (DBaaS) solution1.

In NDB, a Time Machine manages snapshots and log catch-up operations for database protection and recovery. The scenario describes a Time Machine where automatic snapshot and log catch-up activities (both automatic and manual) are halted, and manual snapshots cannot be created. This indicates the Time Machine is in a PAUSED state.

In NDB, the Time Machine states are:

FROZEN: A temporary state during specific operations (e.g., cloning), but it doesn’t halt all activities permanently.

OFFLINE: Indicates the Time Machine is unavailable or not operational, often due to connectivity or configuration issues, but this typically prevents access rather than just halting operations.

PAUSED: Explicitly stops all scheduled and manual snapshot/log activities, often manually triggered by an administrator or due to an error condition (e.g., resource constraints). Operations resume when unpaused.

READY: The normal operational state where snapshots and log catch-ups occur as scheduled.

Given the inability to create manual snapshots alongside halted automatic operations, PAUSED is the most fitting status, as it reflects an intentional or enforced suspension of activities.

Official Nutanix Database Automation References

Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) course, Module 5: Data Protection and Recovery, Lesson 5.2: Managing Time Machines.

Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5 Knowledge Objectives, Section 5: Protect Databases Using NDB, Objective 5.2: Manage Time Machine States (applicable to v6.10).

Nutanix NDB Administration Guide: "Time Machine Statuses and Operations" section.

When registering a Nutanix cluster with NDB, a manual storage mapping between the remote container and the NDB provisioning container is required if the NDB Server container and NDB Provisioning container are separate. This separation occurs when the storage containers used by the NDB server (for its own operations) and the provisioning container (for database VMs) are distinct, either due to multi-cluster setups or custom configurations. Manual mapping ensures NDB can correctly allocate storage resources and manage database provisioning across these containers.

Other conditions do not necessitate manual mapping:

B. Disaster Recovery Network Segmentation is enabled on the cluster: This affects networking, not storage mapping.

C. Nutanix Database Service High Availability is enabled on the cluster: HA configurations handle replication, not container mapping.

D. DB VMs are stored in the NDB Server or NDB Provisioning container: This is a typical setup and does not require manual mapping unless containers differ.

Thus, the verified answer is A, addressing storage container separation.

Official Nutanix Database Automation References

Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) course, Module 2: Deploying and Configuring an NDB Solution, Lesson 2.3: Registering a Nutanix Cluster.

Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5 Knowledge Objectives, Section 2: Deploy and Configure an NDB Solution, Objective 2.2: Register a Nutanix Cluster (applicable to v6.10).

Nutanix NDB Administration Guide: "Storage Container Mapping" section.

In NDB, publishing a software profile update for Microsoft SQL Server makes it available for broader use within the NDB environment. When an administrator creates and publishes an updated software profile (e.g., with a new SQL Server patch or version), this action allows all authorized NDB users to leverage that profile to patch or update the database software on their managed VMs. This is a key feature of NDB’s software profile management, enabling centralized control and distribution of standardized database configurations.

Option A is correct because publishing a profile democratizes access, allowing all users to apply the update to their database VMs, aligning with NDB’s collaborative administration model.

Option B is incorrect because it suggests the profile patches itself, which is not the intent; publishing enables usage, not self-application.

Option C is incorrect because publishing does not automatically deprecate older profiles; deprecation is a separate administrative decision.

Option D is incorrect because publishing facilitates patching, not stalls it.

This process enhances efficiency and consistency in managing SQL Server updates across an organization.

References

Nutanix Database Service (NDB) User Guide, Chapter 4: Managing Software Profiles, Section: Creating and Publishing Software Profiles

Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5 Blueprint, Section 4: Manage Database Software Profiles