FlexCache technology is a feature of NetApp ONTAP that enables you to create a cache volume on a remote cluster and populate it with data from a source volume on a different cluster. The cache volume can serve read requests from local clients, reducing the WAN latency and bandwidth consumption. The cache volume can also be configured to write back to the source volume, ensuring data consistency and availability. FlexCache technology simplifies file distribution by allowing you to create multiple cache volumes across different sites and regions, and manage them from a single interface. References = FlexCache volumes overview - NetApp, FlexCache volumes: Simplify file distribution and reduce WAN latency - NetApp, FlexCache volumes: Use cases and benefits - NetApp.

= Keystone is the option that provides a flexible payment option for on-premises and hybrid cloud NetApp solutions. Keystone is a portfolio of payment solutions and storage-as-a-serviceofferings for hybrid cloud environments that deliver greater agility, financial flexibility, and reduced financial risk1. Keystone offers various payment options, including creative financing, leasing, and fixed or variable solutions to fit your cash flow12. Keystone also offers cloud storage services that enable you to pay as you grow, pay per use, or pay for a single subscription for on-premises and cloud services12. References = 1: NetApp Keystone - Flexible Payment Solutions & Storage-as-a-service Offerings | NetApp, 2: NetApp Keystone frequently asked questions (FAQs).

HTTPS and NFS are two protocols that are supported in StorageGRID. HTTPS is the protocol used for secure communication between clients and StorageGRID nodes1. NFS is the protocol supported by the StorageGRID NAS protocol bridge, which enables object access to files stored on NAS devices using the Amazon S3 API23. References = 1: StorageGRID 11.6 Documentation - NetApp, 2: Datasheet NetApp StorageGRID, 3: NetApp Datasheet - NetApp StorageGRID Webscale Object Storage Software.

A file is a data type that represents a collection of data stored on a disk or other storage device. A file can have a name, an extension, a size, and other attributes. A file can contain any kind of data, such as text, images, audio, video, etc. A file can be opened, read, written, closed, deleted, or moved by a program. An object is a data type that represents an instance of a class, which is a blueprint for creating objects. An object can have properties, which are variables that store data, and methods, which are functions that perform actions on the object. An object can interact with other objects by sending and receiving messages. An object can inherit properties and methods from its parent class, or override them with its own definitions. References = File data type, Object data type, NetApp Data ONTAP 8.3 File Access and Protocols Management Guide, NetApp Data ONTAP 8.3 Object-Store Configuration Guide

BlueXP edge caching is a NetApp BlueXP product that enables a customer to provide read and write access to remote Windows servers from a centralized datastore. BlueXP edge caching allows you to cache data from a BlueXP volume or a Cloud Volume ONTAP system on a local Windows server, which improves the performance and availability of your applications. You can also sync the cached data back to the source volume, ensuring data consistency and protection. References = BlueXP edge caching overview, BlueXP edge caching documentation, BlueXP edge caching: Accelerate access to your data

= Adding a new FAS system to the existing AFF cluster is a way to expand the storage capacity with cost-effective nearline storage for archiving purposes. A FAS system can use HDDs as the performance tier and tier cold data to cloud object storage using FabricPool, which is a NetApp data tiering technology that reduces the amount of physical capacity taken up by data. This way, the administrator can leverage the storage efficiencies of ONTAP and the low-cost storage of the cloud to archive data that is not frequently accessed. The AFF and FAS systems can be managed by the same ONTAP cluster and provide seamless data access and protection. References = Storage Efficiencies - NetApp, Data Archiving: Cost-Effective Cloud Storage - NetApp, AFF Systems and Cloud Volumes ONTAP | NetApp.

 ONTAP software is a NetApp storage system that supports NVMe-over-TCP, which is a protocol that allows remote direct memory access for data using an Ethernet TCP link. ONTAP software enables customers to upgrade their iSCSI-based workloads to NVMe-over-TCP without requiring any special hardware or network changes. ONTAP software also provides other benefits such as data protection, efficiency, and scalability for SAN environments. References = Announcing NVMe/TCP for ONTAP, NetApp brings NVMe over TCP to ONTAP via the iSCSI upgrade path, What Is NVMe? - Benefits & Use Cases

 FabricPool is a NetApp storage technology that enables automated tiering of data from an all-flash appliance to low-cost object storage tiers either on or off premises1. StorageGRID is a NetApp object storage solution that provides scalable, secure, and cost-efficient storage for unstructured data2. FabricPool supports StorageGRID as one of the object storage services that can be used as a backup destination for cold data3. References = FabricPool - Documentation Product Guides and Resources | NetApp, StorageGRID - Documentation Product Guides and Resources | NetApp, FabricPool best practices - NetApp

SnapMirror is a native ONTAP feature that enables customers to create a disaster recovery site and host backups for their on-premises NetApp ONTAP based storage systems in a public cloud. SnapMirror provides reliable, bandwidth-efficient data replication and protection across hybrid multicloud environments. SnapMirror can replicate data from on-premises ONTAP systems to cloud-based ONTAP systems such as Cloud Volumes ONTAP or Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP. SnapMirror also supports data tiering to cloud object storage using FabricPool. References = SnapMirror technology, NetApp ONTAP, Learn about BlueXP disaster recovery for VMware preview

 = When provisioning SAN, the host owns the file system. A LUN is a logical unit of storage that is presented to the host as a SCSI device. The host can format the LUN with any file system it supports, such as NTFS, ext4, or XFS. The ONTAP software does not manage the file system on the LUN, but only provides the block-level access to the LUN. The volume is a logical container for one or more LUNs, but it does not own the file system either. References = SAN Concepts, LUNs and Volumes

NetApp BlueXP observability pricing model is based on the number of managed units (MUs) that you wish to monitor. A managed unit is a logical grouping of resources that can be monitored by Cloud Insights, such as a virtual machine, a Kubernetes pod, a storage volume, or a database instance. The number of managed units is not bound to specific device types, giving you the flexibility to re-deploy in line with your business and infrastructure needs. You canchoose from different subscription plans based on the number of managed units and the duration of the contract. References = Cloud Insights: Infrastructure and Application Monitoring, NetApp Cloud Insights-Monitor and Optimize Your Hybrid Infrastructure

Advanced Disk Partitioning (ADP) is a feature that enables ONTAP to partition a disk into multiple logical units and use them for different purposes. ADP has two main benefits for AFF or FAS systems:

• It optimizes storage capacity by reducing the number of disks required for the root aggregates, which store the system and configuration data. By using ADP, the root aggregate can share the same disk with a data aggregate, which stores the user data. This frees up more disks for data aggregates and increases the usable space for data.
• It reduces RAID parity overhead by creating smaller RAID groups with partitions instead of whole disks. This reduces the amount of parity data that needs to be written and read, which improves the performance and efficiency of the system. References = What are the rules for Advanced Disk Partitioning?, Considerations for automatic drive assignment and ADP systems in ONTAP 9.4 and later, NetApp AFF and Advanced Drive Partition v2, part 1

 NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP is a cloud-native storage solution that allows customers to deploy and manage NetApp hybrid, multi-cloud storage and data services from on-premises sources and cloud service providers. It provides enterprise-grade data and file services, such as NFS, SMB/CIFS, iSCSI and S3, on AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. It also offers high availability, data protection, storage efficiency, and cost-performance optimization features. It is suitable for customers who want to have more control and flexibility over their cloud storage solution, whileleveraging NetApp’s technology and expertise. References = Cloud Volumes ONTAP: Deploy Storage in the Public Cloud - NetApp, NetApp Customer Experience | NetApp, NetApp storage systems overview.

 BlueXP edge caching is a NetApp product that enables real-time global file sharing for distributed workforces by using NetApp Global File Cache. Global File Cache creates a software fabric that caches active datasets in distributed offices to deliver guaranteed transparent data access and optimal performance on a global scale. Global File Cache supports global file locking for Windows file shares, which prevents multiple processes from modifying the same file at the same time and allows cooperating processes to synchronize access to shared files. BlueXP edge caching allows enterprises to consolidate their unstructured data into their choice of private or public cloud, such as Cloud Volumes ONTAP, Cloud Volumes Service, and Azure NetApp Files. References = Global File Cache - File Sharing in the Cloud, Enable global file locking, Breaking locks

= The ONTAP Mediator service and the MetroCluster TieBreaker are two NetApp features that can be used to automate switchover in a MetroCluster IP configuration in the event of a site disaster. The ONTAP Mediator service is a software component that monitors the health and connectivity of the MetroCluster nodes and initiates a switchover when it detects a failure of one site or a network partition between the sites. The MetroCluster TieBreaker is a software component that runs on a third site and acts as a quorum witness for the MetroCluster configuration. The MetroCluster TieBreaker prevents split-brain scenarios and enables automatic switchover when one site becomes unavailable or isolated. References = ONTAP Mediator service overview, [MetroCluster TieBreaker overview], Data protection with automatic unplanned switchover in two-node MetroCluster configurations

 NetApp BlueXP backup and recovery supports various object storage services as backup destinations, including IBM Cloud Object Storage and Microsoft Azure Blob. These services provide scalable, durable, and cost-effective storage for backup data. BlueXP backup and recovery can automatically create and manage the required storage accounts and containers for these services, or use existing ones if specified by the user. BlueXP backup and recovery also supports Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, NetApp StorageGRID, and NetApp ONTAP S3 as backup destinations. References = BlueXP backup and recovery documentation, Back up on-premises ONTAP to IBM Cloud Object Storage, Back up on-premises ONTAP to Azure Blob