Which NetApp Virtual Storage Tier component works at the host level?

Which NetApp Virtual Storage Tier component works at the host level?

• A. Flash Pool
• B. Flash Disk
• C. Flash Accel
• D. Flash Cache

Answer: (C)

Understanding where each Virtual Storage Tier component runs is key. Flash Accel is the one that operates at the host level, meaning it runs on the application host itself rather than inside the NetApp storage system. It functions as a caching layer on the host, using the host’s resources to keep frequently accessed data close to the application. This reduces the number of IO requests that must travel to the storage array and speeds up read performance by serving cached data directly from the host cache. The other components live on the storage side. Flash Disk refers to the physical flash media used inside the NetApp array. Flash Cache is a controller-side cache on the storage system that caches hot data within the storage head. Flash Pool is a storage-system feature that combines SSDs and HDDs into a tiered pool to optimize performance and capacity within the array. Therefore, Flash Accel uniquely provides host-level caching, which is why it is the correct choice.

Understanding where each Virtual Storage Tier component runs is key. Flash Accel is the one that operates at the host level, meaning it runs on the application host itself rather than inside the NetApp storage system. It functions as a caching layer on the host, using the host’s resources to keep frequently accessed data close to the application. This reduces the number of IO requests that must travel to the storage array and speeds up read performance by serving cached data directly from the host cache.

The other components live on the storage side. Flash Disk refers to the physical flash media used inside the NetApp array. Flash Cache is a controller-side cache on the storage system that caches hot data within the storage head. Flash Pool is a storage-system feature that combines SSDs and HDDs into a tiered pool to optimize performance and capacity within the array. Therefore, Flash Accel uniquely provides host-level caching, which is why it is the correct choice.