Nutanix Certified Associate Practice Exam

Which is the correct sequence of steps to stop a Nutanix cluster?

1. Log onto a running controller VM, shut down Nutanix CVMs, shut down Guest VMs

2. Shut down Guest VMs, restart all controller VMs

3. Shut down Nutanix CVMs and Guest VMs, stop the Nutanix cluster

4. Log onto a controller VM, initiate cluster self-check, then shut down Guest VMs

The correct answer is: Shut down Nutanix CVMs and Guest VMs, stop the Nutanix cluster

The correct sequence of steps to stop a Nutanix cluster begins with shutting down the Nutanix Controller VMs (CVMs) followed by the Guest VMs, and finally stopping the Nutanix cluster itself. This approach is essential to ensure that the storage layer provided by the Nutanix infrastructure is properly halted before any virtual machines that depend on it are shut down. First, by shutting down the CVMs, you ensure that the Nutanix distributed storage infrastructure is gracefully stopped. This step is crucial, as the CVMs manage the storage services, and stopping them first prevents potential data corruption or integrity issues. Next, shutting down the Guest VMs ensures that the workloads are safely powered down without disruption, allowing them to store their state and prevent data loss. Lastly, stopping the cluster allows for the complete shutdown of the Nutanix environment in an orderly manner. This sequence not only follows best practices for handling virtualized environments but also guarantees that all components of the Nutanix infrastructure are halted in a safe and efficient manner, mitigating risks typically associated with abrupt shutdowns.