Troubleshooting HyperFlex Native Snapshot Failures
Refer to the exhibit. A Cisco engineer is configuring a next-generation Cisco HyperFlex HX data platform with 2 x Cisco UCS 6248UP fabric interconnects, 8 x Cisco HX-Series HX240c-M4SX servers, plus 8 x Cisco UCS B200-M4 blade servers, Cisco UCS 5108 blade chassis, and Cisco UCS 2204XP fabric extenders. The solution is configured with HX Release 4.5(2a) using VMware ESXi 7.0 U2. After the engineer migrates all customer VMs to the new solution platform, the engineer decides to create HX Native snapshots for all the VMs. The engineer performs the operation and notices that some of the VMs are not creating snapshots. What is the most probable reason that the HX Native snapshots are not created? - 
Community Votes
40% of anonymous learners picked answer C. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Community Insight
The question tests knowledge of preconditions for HX Native Snapshots, with the trap being the assumption that storage provisioning or naming issues are the primary cause rather than VM power state.
This question addresses a common failure mode when creating HX Native Snapshots in Cisco HyperFlex environments, specifically focusing on VM state constraints. It establishes that suspended virtual machines are explicitly unsupported for snapshot operations.
Many candidates select 'The source disk is thick provisioned' because they associate thick provisioning with storage inefficiency, but this does not prevent snapshot creation in HyperFlex.
Community Discussion (4 comments)
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Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
Correct answer: C — The most probable reason is that Virtual machines are in suspended state. According to Cisco HyperFlex documentation, creating the first HX native snapshot and the HX SENTINEL snapshot on VMs in a suspended state is not supported. This is a hard constraint enforced by the HX Data Platform software to ensure data consistency.Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A (Duplicate names) causes configuration errors or deployment failures in vCenter/HyperFlex management, but it is not listed as a direct blocker for the snapshot operation itself in standard troubleshooting guides compared to the explicit suspension rule. Option B (Thick provisioned) is incorrect because HyperFlex handles thick-provisioned disks transparently; the snapshot mechanism relies on block-level changes, which work regardless of initial provisioning type. Option D (Insufficient space) would typically result in a generic failure or warning about capacity, but the specific exclusion of suspended VMs is a documented technical limitation that fits the "most probable" scenario for selective failures.Community Comment Notes
One commenter noted that "Creating the first HX native snapshot... on VMs in a suspended state is not supported," directly citing the admin guide. Another user initially argued for thick provisioning due to storage allocation myths but later conceded to the suspension state based on official documentation. The community consensus shifted towards C after referencing the specific restriction in the HXDP Admin Guide.Official Reference
Exam Strategy
When troubleshooting HyperFlex features, always check the state of the objects involved (e.g., VM power state). Remember that suspended VMs are effectively paused and cannot be snapshotted by HX Native snapshots due to lack of active I/O context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can thick-provisioned disks be snapshotted in HyperFlex?
Yes. Thick provisioning allocates space upfront but does not prevent snapshot creation. HyperFlex manages snapshots at the block level regardless of initial provisioning.
Do duplicate VM names prevent snapshot creation?
Duplicate names within the same vCenter scope are generally not supported for deployment, but the specific documented blocker for snapshot failures is the suspended state.