FAAA_004 Exam Questions and Answers

QUESTION: 6

A customer is reviewing their disaster recovery strategy and want to replicate their data to a secondary datacenter. They have stated that they have internal SLAs around RPO and RTO that they are not currently meeting.

Which two FlashArray features should the SE focus on? (Choose two.)

FlashRecover
ActiveCluster
CloudSnap
ActiveDR

Answer(s): A,D

Explanation:

The customer is reviewing their disaster recovery (DR) strategy and wants to replicate data to a secondary datacenter while addressing internal SLAs for RPO (Recovery Point Objective) and RTO (Recovery Time Objective) . To meet these requirements, the SE should focus on two key Pure Storage FlashArray features: FlashRecover and ActiveDR .

Why These Features?

FlashRecover:

FlashRecover is a snapshot-based replication feature that allows efficient point-in-time copies of data to be replicated to a secondary site.

It helps achieve low RPOs by enabling frequent snapshots and replication to the DR site.

This ensures minimal data loss in the event of a failure.

ActiveDR:

ActiveDR is a disaster recovery solution that provides asynchronous replication between two FlashArrays.

It is specifically designed to minimize RTO by enabling fast failover and failback capabilities.

ActiveDR ensures that the secondary site is always ready to take over with minimal downtime, meeting strict RTO requirements.

Why Not the Other Options?

B . ActiveCluster:

ActiveCluster is a synchronous replication solution for high availability across two sites.
While it provides zero RPO and near-zero RTO, it requires both sites to be within synchronous distance (typically <10ms latency). Since the customer is replicating to a secondary datacenter (likely farther away), ActiveCluster is not suitable.

C . CloudSnap:

CloudSnap is a feature that offloads snapshots to cloud storage (e.g., AWS S3 or Azure Blob).
While it is useful for backup and archival purposes, it does not provide the real-time replication and failover capabilities needed for DR with strict RPO and RTO SLAs.

Key Points:

FlashRecover: Enables efficient replication with low RPOs through snapshot-based replication.

ActiveDR: Provides asynchronous replication with fast failover and failback capabilities to meet RTO

requirements.

SLA Alignment: Both features are designed to help customers meet their internal SLAs for RPO and RTO.

Reference:

Pure Storage FlashArray Documentation: "Disaster Recovery with FlashRecover and ActiveDR"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Meeting RPO and RTO Requirements with FlashArray"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "Best Practices for Disaster Recovery Planning"

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QUESTION: 7

Refer to the exhibit.

A customer is experiencing latency in the VMware environment connected to this array.
What should the SE recommend?

Add DirectFlash Modules as the system is disk bound
Upgrade the controllers
Add network cards to alleviate network congestion
Check the ESXi host

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The exhibit shows latency in the VMware environment connected to the FlashArray.
When troubleshooting latency issues in a VMware environment, the first step is to identify whether the issue originates from the storage array, the network, or the ESXi host. In this case, the SE should recommend checking the ESXi host , as it is often the source of latency problems in VMware environments.

Why This Matters:

ESXi Host Issues:

The ESXi host could be experiencing resource contention (e.g., CPU, memory, or network bottlenecks) or misconfigurations (e.g., improper queue depth settings or multipathing policies).

High latency on the ESXi host can impact the performance of virtual machines and appear as storage latency, even if the FlashArray itself is functioning optimally.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . Add DirectFlash Modules as the system is disk bound:

Pure Storage FlashArray uses DirectFlash Modules, which are NVMe-based and provide extremely low latency. If the array were disk-bound, it would indicate a hardware limitation, but this is unlikely with FlashArray's architecture. The issue is more likely related to the ESXi host or network.

B . Upgrade the controllers:

Controller upgrades are typically unnecessary unless the array is nearing its performance limits. Since the exhibit does not indicate any signs of controller saturation, this is not the correct recommendation.

C . Add network cards to alleviate network congestion:

While network congestion can cause latency, the issue is more likely related to the ESXi host configuration. Adding network cards should only be considered after confirming network bottlenecks through diagnostics.

Key Points:

ESXi Host Diagnostics: Start by checking the ESXi host for resource contention, misconfigurations, or improper settings.

Storage Array Health: Verify that the FlashArray is not experiencing any performance issues (e.g., high queue depths or latency).

Network Analysis: Only after ruling out the ESXi host and storage array should network-related issues be investigated.

Reference:

Pure Storage FlashArray Documentation: "Troubleshooting Latency in VMware Environments"

VMware Best Practices Guide: "Optimizing ESXi Host Performance"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "Diagnosing and Resolving Latency Issues"

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QUESTION: 8

Which Evergreen//Forever benefit allows a customer to trade in an existing 12 TB shelf for a new 60 TB shelf while only paying for a 48 TB increase?

Capacity Consolidation
Flat is Fair Maintenance
Right-Size Guarantee
Love Your Storage

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The Right-Size Guarantee is an Evergreen//Forever benefit that allows customers to trade in existing storage shelves for newer, higher-capacity shelves while only paying for the incremental capacity increase. In this scenario, the customer can trade in a 12 TB shelf for a 60 TB shelf and only pay for the additional 48 TB of capacity.

Why This Matters:

The Right-Size Guarantee ensures that customers can upgrade their storage infrastructure without overpaying for capacity they already own. This aligns with Pure Storage's commitment to providing flexible and cost-effective storage solutions.

By leveraging this benefit, the customer can modernize their storage environment while optimizing costs.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . Capacity Consolidation:

Capacity Consolidation refers to the ability to consolidate workloads onto fewer arrays or shelves, but it does not specifically address trading in existing shelves for higher-capacity ones at a reduced cost.

B . Flat is Fair Maintenance:

Flat is Fair Maintenance ensures predictable and consistent maintenance pricing over time, but it does not apply to upgrading or trading in storage shelves.

D . Love Your Storage:

Love Your Storage is a program that provides hardware upgrades and enhancements, but it does not directly relate to trading in shelves for capacity increases.

Key Points:

Right-Size Guarantee: Allows customers to trade in existing shelves for higher-capacity shelves at a reduced cost.

Cost Optimization: Ensures customers only pay for the incremental capacity increase, reducing total cost of ownership (TCO).

Evergreen Benefits: Part of Pure Storage's commitment to delivering flexible and future-proof storage solutions.

Reference:

Pure Storage Evergreen//Forever Documentation: "Understanding the Right-Size Guarantee"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Evergreen Architecture and Subscription Benefits"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "How to Leverage the Right-Size Guarantee"

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QUESTION: 9

Pure Storage's Right-Size Guarantee protects the customer for how long?

30 days starting from the date of arrival
6 months starting from the date of arrival
12 months starting from the date of arrival
Until the Evergreen subscription expires

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Pure Storage's Right-Size Guarantee protects the customer for 12 months starting from the date of arrival . This guarantee ensures that if the customer's storage needs grow beyond their initial purchase, they can upgrade to larger capacity shelves or arrays without overpaying for the additional capacity.

Why This Matters:

The 12-month protection period gives customers ample time to assess their storage requirements and make adjustments as needed. This flexibility is particularly valuable for organizations with dynamic or unpredictable growth patterns.

By protecting the customer for a full year, Pure Storage ensures that they can scale their storage infrastructure efficiently without incurring unnecessary costs.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . 30 days starting from the date of arrival:

A 30-day protection period would be insufficient for most customers to evaluate their storage needs and make informed decisions about upgrades.

B . 6 months starting from the date of arrival:

While 6 months is longer than 30 days, it is still shorter than the standard 12-month protection period offered by Pure Storage.

D . Until the Evergreen subscription expires:

The Right-Size Guarantee is not tied to the duration of the Evergreen subscription. It is specifically valid for 12 months from the date of arrival.

Key Points:

12-Month Protection: Provides customers with a full year to assess their storage needs and leverage the Right-Size Guarantee.

Scalability: Ensures customers can upgrade their storage infrastructure cost-effectively as their needs evolve.

Customer-Centric Approach: Reflects Pure Storage's commitment to delivering flexible and future- proof solutions.

Reference:

Pure Storage Evergreen//Forever Documentation: "Right-Size Guarantee Terms and Conditions"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Maximizing Value with Evergreen Subscriptions"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "Understanding the Right-Size Guarantee Duration"

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QUESTION: 10

A customer that produces video media content needs to replace their multi-rack HDD-based storage array used for video archive.
Which Pure Storage solution will meet the customer's needs in the most cost-effective way?

FlashArray//X
FlashArray//XL
FlashArray//C

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

For a customer producing video media content and needing a cost-effective solution to replace their multi-rack HDD-based storage array for video archiving, the best choice is FlashArray//C .

Why This Matters:

FlashArray//C is designed for capacity-optimized workloads, making it ideal for use cases like video archiving, backups, and large-scale data repositories.

It offers high-density storage with QLC flash technology, which provides a balance of performance and cost-effectiveness for less performance-intensive workloads.

Compared to HDD-based systems, FlashArray//C delivers faster access times, lower latency, and improved reliability, all at a lower cost per terabyte than higher-performance arrays like FlashArray//X or //XL.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . FlashArray//X:

FlashArray//X is optimized for high-performance workloads, such as databases and mission-critical applications.
While it offers exceptional performance, it is more expensive and not the most cost- effective solution for video archiving.

B . FlashArray//XL:

FlashArray//XL is designed for extreme-scale workloads requiring massive performance and capacity. It is overkill for video archiving and would significantly increase costs without providing proportional benefits.

Key Points:

FlashArray//C: Designed for capacity-optimized workloads, offering a cost-effective solution for video archiving.

QLC Flash Technology: Provides high density and reliability at a lower cost per terabyte compared to traditional HDDs or higher-performance flash arrays.

Cost Efficiency: Balances performance and cost, making it ideal for large-scale, less performance- intensive workloads like video media archives.

Reference:

Pure Storage FlashArray//C Documentation: "Use Cases for FlashArray//C"

Pure Storage Whitepaper: "Optimizing Storage Costs with FlashArray//C"

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: "Choosing the Right FlashArray Model for Your Workload"

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Pure Storage FAAA_004 Exam (page: 2) Pure Storage FlashArray Architect Associate Updated on: 15-Feb-2026

QUESTION: 6

Explanation:

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QUESTION: 7

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QUESTION: 8

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QUESTION: 9

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QUESTION: 10

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Pure Storage FAAA_004 Exam (page: 2)
Pure Storage FlashArray Architect Associate
Updated on: 15-Feb-2026