NCP-DB Practice Exam Questions with Answers Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5 Certification

Nutanix Database Service (NDB) uses software profiles for database patching to keep your databases secure and optimized1. When a new database is provisioned, it will be on your current environment’s database version to maintain consistency and stop version sprawl1. Therefore, after an administrator has applied an Oracle security patch to a database server VM registered in Era, the change can be made available to other existing database instances by creating a new software profile in Era from the patched VM1.

NDB supports SMTP server configuration for sending email notifications and alerts. SMTP server configuration requires specifying the SMTP server address, port, username, password, and encryption method. The encryption method determines how the email messages are secured during transmission. NDB supports two encryption methods for SMTP server configuration: TLS and SSL.

TLS (Transport Layer Security) is a protocol that encrypts and authenticates data between the email client and the SMTP server. TLS can operate in two modes: explicit and implicit. In explicit mode, the email client and the SMTP server negotiate the encryption method and parameters after establishing a plain text connection. This mode typically uses port 587. In implicit mode, the email client and the SMTP server assume that the connection is encrypted from the start, without any negotiation. This mode typically uses port 465.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a predecessor of TLS that also encrypts and authenticates data between the email client and the SMTP server. SSL operates in implicit mode only, and uses port 465 by default. SSL is less secure than TLS, but it is still widely used and supported by many email providers.

S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is a standard that encrypts and signs email messages at the application layer, rather than the transport layer. S/MIME requires the use of digital certificates and public key cryptography to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of email messages. S/MIME is not a valid encryption method for SMTP server configuration, as it does not affect the connection between the email client and the SMTP server.

IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) is a suite of protocols that secures IP packets at the network layer, rather than the application or transport layer. IPsec can encrypt and authenticate data between any two IP endpoints, such as routers, firewalls, or hosts. IPsec is not a valid encryption method for SMTP server configuration, as it does not apply to the specific protocol or port used by SMTP.

References:

• Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) Course Details, Section 1.4: NDB Alerts and Notifications
• Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) Certification Details, Objective 1.4: Configure NDB Alerts and Notifications
• Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) YouTube Playlist, Video 1.4: NDB Alerts and Notifications
• [Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) User Guide], Section 1.4: Configure SMTP Server Settings

NDB can leverage snapshots and transaction logs to refresh a database clone to the latest state of the source database. Snapshots are point-in-time copies of the database that are stored on the Nutanix cluster. Transaction logs are records of the changes made to the database after the snapshot was taken. NDB can use either snapshots or transaction logs, or a combination of both, to refresh a database clone. Cerebro logs and templates are not used for refreshing database clones. Cerebro logs are used for log catch-up operations, which are different from refresh operations. Templates are used for provisioning new databases, not for refreshing existing ones. References:

• Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) course, Module 4, Lesson 4.3 - Refreshing Clones
• Nutanix Support & Insights, Nutanix NDB User Guide v2.5, Clone Database Management

 The correct answer is A because NDB handles the database restore operation by copying the specific database files from the snapshot volume to the source volume, without affecting the other databases that share the same source volume. NDB uses a copy-on-write mechanism to create snapshots and clones, which means that only the changes made to the database files are stored in the snapshot or clone volume, while the original files are kept in the source volume. Therefore, when restoring a source database from a snapshot, NDB only needs to copy the specific database files that have been modified since the snapshot was taken, and overwrite them on the source volume. The other options are not correct because they either cause data loss or unnecessary data transfer. Option B is not correct because replacing the source volume with specific db disks would erase the other databases that share the same source volume, which is not desirable. Option C is not correct because replacing the source volume with the snapshot volume would also erase the other databases that share the same source volume, as well as any changes made to the source database after the snapshot was taken, which is not desirable. Option D is not correct because copying all database files to the source volume would be inefficient and unnecessary, as only the modified files need to be copied, and the other files are already present on the source volume. References: Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) course, Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) certification, Nutanix NCP-DB Certification Exam Syllabus and Study Guide, [Nutanix Support & Insights]

 Data Access Management (DAM) policies are a feature of NDB Multi-Cluster that allows you to control the access and availability of time machine data across different Nutanix clusters. You can use DAM policies to specify which clusters can access the time machine data of a source database, and which clusters can replicate the time machine data for backup or disaster recovery purposes. DAM policies help you to optimize the storage and network resources, as well as ensure the security and compliance of your database workloads. The purpose of DAM policies is not to register multiple Nutanix clusters in NDB, as this is done by using the Add Cluster option in the NDB settings page. The purpose of DAM policies is also not to perform snapshot operations on a single Nutanix cluster, as this is done by using the Time Machine feature in the NDB dashboard. The purpose of DAM policies is also not to remove data accessibility of a time machine across all registered Nutanix clusters in NDB, as this is done by using the Delete option in the Time Machine page. References:

• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 6: Managing NDB Multi-Cluster, Lesson 2: Data Access Management Policies, Slide 3: Data Access Management Policies
• Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) 5 Exam, Section 6: Administer an NDB Environment, Objective 6.5: Apply procedural concepts to create Data Access Management (DAM) policies

The error message in the exhibit indicates that the operation failed during the “Create and Register Database Server VMs” step because “Provisioning of all the observers simultaneously took more than two hours.” This type of error is associated with MySQL, as it involves observers which are a part of MySQL Group Replication, used for ensuring high availability1. The other options are not related to the error message, as they do not use observers or Group Replication for clustering. References:

• 1: Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) course, Module 5: Database High Availability, Lesson 5.2: MySQL Group Replication, slide 7

In the context of Nutanix Era, the term “Brownfield Database” is used to refer to an existing database that is registered with Era1. This process allows Era to bring Database as a Service (DBaaS) capabilities to your existing database2. It’s important to note that before you register a database with Era, certain prerequisites must be met3.

Nutanix Era leverages the Nutanix time-efficient snapshots to create the clones1. These database clones are highly space-efficient, consuming near-zero bytes by having only the further writes constituting to its size1. Therefore, an administrator would find the total space being used by all Era clones for a specific database under the Cloning widget on the Databases > Clones database summary page. The other options do not specifically provide information about the total space used by all Era clones for a specific database. Therefore, the correct answer is A. Under the Cloning widget on the Databases > Clones database summary page.

The NDB database agent is a service that runs on each database server VM and communicates with the NDB instance. It uses port 443 for HTTPS API calls and port 9440 for Nutanix cluster API calls. These ports are required to be open on the database server VMs for NDB to function properly. References: Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA), page 9; Ports and Protocols Reference Chart | Nutanix Community, section “Nutanix Database Service (NDB)”

In the Nutanix Era management interface, an administrator should perform an upgrade under the Administration > Maintenance section1. As part of the upgrade process, the Era server is upgraded first, followed by all the Era cluster agents and database server agents in parallel1. The Dashboard displays the current version and an option to upgrade the Era server to a latest version when a new version is available for upgrade1. This ensures that the Nutanix Era environment is always up-to-date with the latest features and security updates1.

 The database parameters profile is used to define the initialization variables for different types of database engines and workloads, such as OLTP and DW. The database parameters profile allows the database administrator to customize the configuration settings for each database engine, such as Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. The database parameters profile can also be applied to different database operations, such as provisioning, cloning, and patching. The database parameters profile helps to optimize the performance and functionality of the databases according to the specific requirements and best practices of each database engine and workload.

The software profile version is used to define the software version and edition for each database engine, such as Oracle 19c Enterprise Edition or SQL Server 2019 Standard Edition. The software profile version is required for provisioning new databases and patching existing databases. The software profile version helps to ensure the compatibility and compliance of the databases with the supported software versions and editions.

The network profile is used to define the network configuration and security settings for the database server VMs and the databases, such as the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, DNS, firewall rules, and SSL certificates. The network profile is required for registering new database server VMs and provisioning new databases. The network profile helps to ensure the connectivity and protection of the database server VMs and the databases within the network environment.

The compute profile is used to define the compute resources and storage policies for the database server VMs and the databases, such as the CPU, memory, disk size, disk type, compression, deduplication, and replication factor. The compute profile is required for provisioning new databases and cloning existing databases. The compute profile helps to ensure the availability and efficiency of the database server VMs and the databases within the Nutanix cluster.

References:

• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 4: Nutanix Era Configuration, Lesson 4.1: Nutanix Era Configuration, slides 6-9.
• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 5: Nutanix Era Operations, Lesson 5.1: Nutanix Era Operations, slides 5-8, 11-12, 15-16.

 The optimal path to restore the table back with minimum data loss is to use the point in time restore feature of NDB, which allows the administrator to restore the database to a specific point in time based on the available snapshots and logs1. By restoring using point in time till 10:42pm, the administrator can recover the table just before it was dropped by the user, and minimize the data loss to the least possible amount1. The other options are not optimal, as they either involve restoring an older snapshot, which may result in more data loss, or restoring a non-existent snapshot, which is not possible. References:

• 1: Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) course, Module 6: Database Recovery, Lesson 6.2: Point in Time Restore, slide 5

Nutanix Era offers Role-Based Access Control capabilities by organically embedding them in the product. It provides the ability to add and remove users from Era, create and assign roles to users, and associate various privileges with a role1. The default roles available within Era for Role-Based Access Control are:

• prism Admin
• Era Super Admin
• Era Database Admin
• Era Infrastructure Admin1 These roles allow for the management of both physical resources like IP addresses and VLANs along with database entities like databases, time-machines, clones, and so on1.

The correct answer is B because it allows the administrator to create a custom role with the specific privileges that the Jr DBA user needs, and then assign that role to the user. This way, the administrator can control the access level of the Jr DBA user without affecting the existing roles or users in NDB. Option A is incorrect because it involves cloning the Database Admin role, which has more privileges than the Jr DBA user requires, and then adding more privileges, which is unnecessary and redundant. Option C is incorrect because it involves creating a user for the Jr DBA, but not assigning a role to the user, which means the user will not have any privileges in NDB. Option D is incorrect because it involves cloning the Database Admin role, which has more privileges than the Jr DBA user requires, and then removing some of the privileges, which is inefficient and risky.

References: The following sources provide more information about the user roles and privileges in NDB:

• Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) course, Module 8: Administering an NDB Environment, Lesson 8.6: Managing Access Controls in NDB
• Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5, Knowledge Objectives, Section 6 - Administer an NDB Environment
• Nutanix Database Service (NDB) User Guide, Chapter 8: Administering an NDB Environment, Section 8.6: Managing Access Controls in NDB

To create a software profile version for a newly-released Oracle ISc patch, an administrator should follow these steps:

• Download the required patch from MyOracle Support1. This is because Oracle patches are typically available from MyOracle Support, not Microsoft Support.
• Apply the patch to the Oracle Home/Grid Home on a cloned VM of the gold image using OPatchAuto1. OPatchAuto is a utility provided by Oracle that automates the process of applying patches to a database.
• Ensure success of patch application1. It’s important to verify that the patch has been applied successfully to avoid any issues down the line.
• Create a new software profile version from the original software profile using the cloned VM where OPatchAuto was run successfully using Era GUI1. This step is necessary to ensure that the new patch is included in the software profile.
• Mark the original patch profile as hidden1. This step is optional but can be useful for keeping the software profile clean and organized.

Please note that these answers are based on the information available as of my last update in 2021 and may need to be verified with the most recent Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) documentation or resources.

 Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) introduces the concept of MS SQL Server database groups, which allows multiple databases running in the same database instance to be grouped as one Time Machine entity1. This applies to both single DB Server VM setups, standalone databases, as well as to Availability Group databases1. However, it does not support Point In Time Recovery (PITR)-based Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for database groups containing mixed Recovery Models. This means that if the databases within the group have different recovery models, PITR-based SLAs cannot be applied to the group as a whole.

When registering a new Nutanix Cluster with Era, the Era Agent is installed on the target Nutanix cluster via the Register Nutanix Cluster workflow1. This agent is crucial for the functioning of the Nutanix Database Service (NDB) as it helps in managing and optimizing database workloads2. It also enables the application of procedural concepts to add Nutanix clusters to NDB2.

A Compute Profile is a template that defines the CPU, memory, and disk resources for a database server VM. By creating a Compute Profile with the desired number of cores per vCPU, the administrator can easily apply it to multiple VMs during provisioning, ensuring consistent and optimal performance. This also saves time and effort compared to updating the VMs individually or modifying the default profile after provisioning. References: Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) Course Details, Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) Certification Details, Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) YouTube Playlist, How-to setup number of cores per CPU in a virtual machine.

Based on the exhibit, the administrator is logged in with the Database Admin account (bsmith@ntnxlab.local), which does not have the permission to create local users on NDB. Only the Super Admin account (bsmith) has this permission, as indicated by the User type column. Therefore, the administrator needs to log out and log in again with the Super Admin account to add a new database admin as a local user to NDB. References: Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) Course Details, Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) Certification Details, Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) YouTube Playlist, Nutanix Database Automation User Guide.

The administrator should perform a rolling upgrade, applying the patch to the secondary members first, followed by the primary member, to accomplish the task of patching a MongoDB server cluster within an NDB environment. A rolling upgrade is a method of applying patches or updates to a cluster without downtime or interruption of service. The administrator can use the NDB patching feature to perform a rolling upgrade on a MongoDB server cluster, which consists of a primary member and one or more secondary members that form a replica set. The NDB patching feature allows the administrator to select the software profile version, the database parameters profile, and the network profile for the patching operation. The NDB patching feature also automates the steps of the rolling upgrade, such as:

• Step 1: The administrator initiates the patching operation on the NDB instance, and selects the MongoDB server cluster to be patched.
• Step 2: The NDB instance verifies the prerequisites and compatibility of the patching operation, and creates a pre-patch snapshot of the MongoDB server cluster.
• Step 3: The NDB instance applies the patch to the first secondary member of the MongoDB server cluster, and waits for the patching to complete successfully.
• Step 4: The NDB instance verifies the status and functionality of the patched secondary member, and repeats the patching process for the remaining secondary members of the MongoDB server cluster, one at a time.
• Step 5: The NDB instance performs a failover of the primary member to one of the patched secondary members, and applies the patch to the original primary member.
• Step 6: The NDB instance verifies the status and functionality of the patched primary member, and performs a failback of the primary member to the original primary member, if desired.
• Step 7: The NDB instance creates a post-patch snapshot of the MongoDB server cluster, and completes the patching operation.

Performing a rolling upgrade, applying the patch to the secondary members first, followed by the primary member, is the recommended and best practice method of patching a MongoDB server cluster within an NDB environment, as it ensures the high availability, consistency, and performance of the MongoDB server cluster and the databases.

Performing a rolling upgrade, applying the patch to the primary member first, followed by the secondary members, is not a valid or feasible method of patching a MongoDB server cluster within an NDB environment, as it would cause downtime, data loss, and inconsistency of the MongoDB server cluster and the databases. Applying the patch to the primary member first would disrupt the replication and synchronization of the MongoDB server cluster, and would require manual intervention and recovery steps to restore the MongoDB server cluster to a functional state.

Applying the patch to all nodes at once is not a valid or feasible method of patching a MongoDB server cluster within an NDB environment, as it would cause downtime, data loss, and inconsistency of the MongoDB server cluster and the databases. Applying the patch to all nodes at once would require shutting down the entire MongoDB server cluster, and would expose the MongoDB server cluster and the databases to potential errors, failures, and corruption during the patching process.

Disabling the replica set while patching is not a valid or feasible method of patching a MongoDB server cluster within an NDB environment, as it would cause downtime, data loss, and inconsistency of the MongoDB server cluster and the databases. Disabling the replica set while patching would break the replication and synchronization of the MongoDB server cluster, and would require manual intervention and recovery steps to re-enable the replica set and restore the MongoDB server cluster to a functional state.

References:

• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 5: Nutanix Era Operations, Lesson 5.1: Nutanix Era Operations, slides 11-12, 15-16.
• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 5: Nutanix Era Operations, Lesson 5.3: Nutanix Era Patching, slides 5-9.
• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 5: Nutanix Era Operations, Lesson 5.4: Nutanix Era Patching Lab, slides 5-10.
• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 7: Nutanix Era Troubleshooting, Lesson 7.1: Nutanix Era Troubleshooting, slide 6.

Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) simplifies database provisioning using predefined profiles customized to your environment. Software profiles, which are templates of the OS and database engine, allow you to maintain consistent software versions1. You then use additional profiles to customize that deployment1.

To change the static IP address on the NDB VM, an administrator would need to enter the NDB command line using the cerebro_cli command. The cerebro_cli command is used to access the Cerebro service, which is responsible for managing the NDB instance and its components. The cerebro_cli command can be run from the NDB VM or from any other VM that has network connectivity to the NDB VM. The cerebro_cli command has various subcommands and options to perform different tasks, such as changing the IP address, hostname, password, or certificate of the NDB VM. To change the static IP address, the administrator would need to use the cerebro_cli network update subcommand with the appropriate parameters, such as the new IP address, netmask, gateway, and DNS servers. The cerebro_cli network update subcommand also requires the administrator to provide the current password of the NDB VM for authentication. After changing the IP address, the administrator would need to restart the NDB VM for the changes to take effect. References:

• Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5, Section 2 - Deploy and Configure an NDB Solution, Objective 2.2: Configure an NDB Instance
• Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) Course, Module 3: Nutanix Database Service (NDB) Installation and Configuration, Lesson 3.2: Configuring NDB, Topic: Changing the IP Address of the NDB VM
• Nutanix Database Service (NDB) Command Line Interface Guide, Chapter 2: Cerebro CLI, Section: cerebro_cli network update

Nutanix Era (NDB) utilizes DEFAULT_008 SLAs with varying frequencies for snapshots and log backups to achieve different recovery point objectives (RPOs). Here's how they compare:

• DEFAULT_008 GOLD SLA: Typically has frequent log backups (e.g., every 15 minutes) and snapshots every few hours. This is designed for critical databases with very low RPOs.
• DEFAULT_008 SILVER SLA: Offers a balance between protection and resource usage. Log backups might occur every hour with snapshots less frequently. This SLA is often suitable for databases requiring a good RPO without being overly resource-intensive.
• DEFAULT_008 BRONZE SLA: Has less frequent log backups (e.g., every few hours) and less frequent snapshots. This is used for databases with less stringent RPO requirements.
• DEFAULT_008 BRASS SLA: This has infrequent log backups and is usually considered the least protective SLA with the longest potential RPO

Reasoning:

Since the requirement is to have at least a 7-day log recovery period, any SLA with more frequent log backups than daily is excessive. The DEFAULT_008 SILVER SLA, with its hourly log backups, easily satisfies this requirement, offering the ability to restore to a point in time within the last hour of the past seven days.

References:

• Nutanix Era User Guide/SLA Management: https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=Nutanix-NDB-User-Guide-v2_5:top-sla-management-c.html ]

When performing a SQL Server Restore Source Database operation in Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB), an administrator might choose the Restore Location as New Location if they want to restore to a new location and have Era apply Nutanix best practices1. This is because Nutanix Era automates and simplifies database management, allowing the administrator to manage databases at scale, and it applies Nutanix best practices during the restore process1. This ensures optimal performance and reliability of the restored database1.

HA drivers are software components that enable high availability features for database VMs, such as failover, fencing, and heartbeat. HA drivers can be upgraded using the Life Cycle Management (LCM) feature of Nutanix Prism. LCM can detect the available updates for HA drivers and apply them to the database VMs in a non-disruptive manner. LCM can also perform health checks and pre-upgrade validations to ensure the successful completion of the upgrade process. One-click software upgrade is a feature of Nutanix Era that allows you to upgrade the Era software itself, not the HA drivers. Database VM OS patching is a feature of Nutanix Era that allows you to patch the operating system of the database VMs, not the HA drivers. Database software patching is a feature of Nutanix Era that allows you to patch the database software of the database VMs, not the HA drivers. References:

• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 2: Deploying and Configuring an NDB Solution, Lesson 3: Configuring NDB High Availability, Slide 9: HA Driver Upgrade
• Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) 5 Exam, Section 4: Operate and Maintain an NDB Environment, Objective 4.4: Upgrade databases

According to the Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) course, the ports 3205 and 3260 are required for iSCSI connections between the NDB server and the Controller VMs1. Port 3205 is used for the NDB iSCSI initiator service, which initiates the iSCSI sessions and sends SCSI commands to the Controller VMs1. Port 3260 is used for the iSCSI target service, which listens for incoming iSCSI requests and provides access to the storage devices on the Controller VMs1. The other options are not related to iSCSI connections. Port 22 is used for SSH, port 9440 is used for Prism Central, port 80 is used for HTTP, port 443 is used for HTTPS, port 5985 is used for WinRM HTTP, and port 5986 is used for WinRM HTTPS2. References:

• 1: Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) course, Module 2: Database Provisioning, Lesson 2.2: Database Engine Installation, slide 13
• 2: Nutanix NCP-DB Certification Exam Sample Questions, Question 18, Answer

NDB supports Linux OS patching for database server VMs. Linux OS patching is performed by using the yum or apt package managers, depending on the Linux distribution. To exclude Kernel patches for the Linux OS, the administrator can disable or exclude the appropriate repositories on the VM prior to patching. This can be done by editing the yum.conf or apt.conf files, or by using the --disablerepo or --exclude options in the yum or apt commands. This way, the administrator can control which patches are applied to the VM without affecting other VMs or requiring additional scripts or reboots.

References:

• Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) Course Details, Section 4.2: NDB Linux OS Patching
• Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) Certification Details, Objective 4.2: Perform Linux OS Patching
• Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) YouTube Playlist, Video 4.2: NDB Linux OS Patching
• Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) User Guide, Section 4.5: Patch Linux OS Software

According to the Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) learning documents, Nutanix Era is a database management tool that automates and simplifies database operations, including provisioning, patching, upgrading, and more1. However, for a database to be managed by Era, it must be registered with Era1. This means that if a database is on a non-Nutanix platform, it cannot be directly upgraded using an Era workflow. It must first be migrated to a Nutanix platform and registered with Era before it can be managed and upgraded using Era1.

According to the Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) course, a Software Profile is a template that defines the configuration of the database engine, such as the version, edition, features, and parameters1. It also specifies the disk layout for the database installation, such as the size, type, and mount point of each disk1. However, the System Page File disk is omitted from the Software Profile, as it is automatically created by the NDB service based on the memory size of the database server VM1. The other options are included in the Software Profile, as they are essential for the database operation and performance1. References:

• 1: Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) course, Module 2: Database Provisioning, Lesson 2.3: Software Profiles, slide 5

The recovery plans policy defines the Time Machine data availability across multiple registered clusters in NDB. The recovery plans policy allows the database administrator to specify the source and target clusters, the frequency and retention of the cross-cluster snapshots, and the network and compute profiles for the recovery operations. The recovery plans policy helps to ensure the disaster recovery and business continuity of the NDB-managed databases in case of a cluster failure or outage.

The data access management policy defines the access permissions and roles for the NDB users and groups. The data access management policy allows the database administrator to grant or revoke access to the NDB instance, the database server VMs, the databases, and the database operations. The data access management policy helps to ensure the security and compliance of the NDB-managed databases and users.

The data protection policy defines the backup and restore settings for the NDB-managed databases. The data protection policy allows the database administrator to specify the frequency, retention, and compression of the database snapshots, and the backup location and encryption for the database backups. The data protection policy helps to ensure the backup and recovery of the NDB-managed databases within the same cluster.

The service level agreements policy defines the performance and availability metrics for the NDB-managed databases. The service level agreements policy allows the database administrator to monitor and enforce the database uptime, latency, throughput, and IOPS. The service level agreements policy helps to ensure the quality of service and performance of the NDB-managed databases.

References:

• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 4: Nutanix Era Configuration, Lesson 4.1: Nutanix Era Configuration, slide 9.
• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 5: Nutanix Era Operations, Lesson 5.1: Nutanix Era Operations, slides 8, 12, 16, 20.
• Nutanix Database Management & Automation Training Course, Module 6: Nutanix Era Disaster Recovery, Lesson 6.1: Nutanix Era Disaster Recovery, slides 5-7.

In the Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) framework, provisioning a new Oracle database through Era requires the configuration of both a Compute and a Storage profile1. The Compute profile is used to define the resources allocated to the database, such as CPU and memory, while the Storage profile is used to specify the storage configuration for the database. These profiles are essential in ensuring that the database is provisioned with the necessary resources and storage configurations for optimal performance23.

According to the Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) learning documents, Era provides out-of-band patching of databases to eliminate database configuration sprawl1. The two Oracle software components that Era patches are:

A. Grid home2 B. Oracle home2

These components are crucial for the operation of Oracle databases and keeping them updated ensures data security and efficient validation of critical database updates1. Please refer to the official Nutanix documentation and training materials for more detailed information2.

Nutanix Era allows custom metadata to be assigned to entities (clones, time machines, databases, and database servers) by using Tags. Tags are a component of Nutanix Era that allows users to assign custom metadata to various entities, enhancing the ability to organize, search, and manage these entities within the Era platform1.

According to the Nutanix Database Automation (NCP-DB) learning documents, the Schedule feature of the Time Machine allows developers to automate the data refresh for their clones1. This feature eliminates the time-consuming, complex process of database clone/refresh, allowing admins to create database clones/refresh to any point in time in just a few minutes1. Please refer to the official Nutanix documentation and training materials for more detailed information2.

 NDB supports two modes of log backup management for Microsoft SQL databases: NDB-managed and 3rd-party managed. In the NDB-managed mode, NDB takes full control of the log backups and stores them in the Cerebro log location. In the 3rd-party managed mode, NDB allows the use of external backup tools to backup the logs from the database log destination. However, NDB still needs to capture the logs for its own operations, such as point-in-time recovery, clone refresh, and log catch-up. Therefore, NDB will periodically scan the database log destination and copy the logs to the Cerebro log location. This process requires that the log catch-up begins before the logs get backed up by the 3rd-party tool, otherwise NDB will miss some logs and the operations will fail. If the 3rd-party tool grants exclusive access to the logs, then NDB will not be able to capture them at all, and the operations will not be supported. References:

• Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) course, Module 5, Lesson 5.2 - Log Backup Management
• Nutanix Support & Insights, Nutanix NDB User Guide v2.5, Log Backup Management

The correct answer is C because it follows the recommended procedure for applying a CU to a SQL Server Software Profile in NDB. By applying the patch to the profile VM, the administrator ensures that the CU is compatible with the existing Software Profile settings and configuration. By creating a new Software Profile version, the administrator preserves the previous version of the Software Profile for rollback purposes and allows the new version to be tested and published. Option A is incorrect because it deletes the existing Software Profile, which may cause data loss and prevent rollback. Option B is incorrect because it does not apply the patch to the profile VM, which may result in errors or inconsistencies in the Software Profile. Option D is incorrect because it creates a new Software Profile instead of a new version, which may cause confusion and duplication.

References: The following sources provide more information about the Software Profile management and patching in NDB:

• Nutanix Database Management & Automation (NDMA) course, Module 5: Patching Databases Using NDB, Lesson 5.2: Creating and Modifying Software Profiles
• Nutanix Certified Professional - Database Automation (NCP-DB) v6.5, Knowledge Objectives, Section 4 - Operate and Maintain an NDB Environment
• Nutanix Database Service (NDB) User Guide, Chapter 5: Patching Databases Using NDB, Section 5.2: Creating and Modifying Software Profiles
• Nutanix Database Service (NDB) User Guide, Chapter 5: Patching Databases Using NDB, Section 5.3: Testing and Publishing Database Patches

 Nutanix Era supports a variety of database engines, including Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Microsoft SQL Server1. However, when it comes to rolling back a patch using the Command Line Interface (CLI), this feature is specifically supported for the Oracle database engine1. This allows for efficient validation of critical database updates and simplifies database rollback1. Please note that while Era does provide support for other database engines, the ability to rollback a patch using CLI is currently specific to Oracle1.

The Nutanix Era platform provides a feature called Time Machine, which is designed to manage the lifecycle of database copies and clones1. When a new table is added to the source database, the administrator should perform a Log Catch-up using the source database’s Time Machine. This action ensures that the Time Machine captures the latest state of the source database, including the newly added table1. After performing the Log Catch-up, the administrator should refresh the clone database. The refresh operation updates the clone with the latest state captured by the Time Machine, thereby publishing the new table to the clone1.