AWS Multi-Protocol Storage with FSx for NetApp ONTAP

SAA-C03 By islever Editorial Last updated

Design secure access to AWS resources.

Short answer

A Use Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP for storage. Configure multi-protocol access.

Question

A company has multiple Microsoft Windows SMB file servers and Linux NFS file servers for file sharing in an on-premises environment. As part of the company's AWS migration plan, the company wants to consolidate the file servers in the AWS Cloud. The company needs a managed AWS storage service that supports both NFS and SMB access. The solution must be able to share between protocols. The solution must have redundancy at the Availability Zone level. Which solution will meet these requirements?
  1. Use Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP for storage. Configure multi-protocol access. Correct Answer
  2. Create two Amazon EC2 instances. Use one EC2 instance for Windows SMB file server access and one EC2 instance for Linux NFS file server access.
  3. Use Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP for SMB access. Use Amazon FSx for Lustre for NFS access.
  4. Use Amazon S3 storage. Access Amazon S3 through an Amazon S3 File Gateway.

Key Takeaways

The question tests knowledge of multi-protocol capabilities in AWS managed services, specifically identifying which service natively supports both SMB and NFS simultaneously without requiring separate instances or gateways.

Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP is the managed AWS storage service that supports simultaneous SMB and NFS access within a single file system. This solution provides multi-AZ redundancy while consolidating legacy on-premises file servers.

Common mistake: Candidates often select Amazon S3 File Gateway (Option D), assuming it handles all file protocols. However, S3 File Gateway only presents data via the NFS protocol; it does not support SMB, making it unsuitable for Windows clients in this scenario.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP is explicitly designed to provide multi-protocol file access. It allows you to create a single file system that can be mounted using both SMB (for Windows) and NFS (for Linux) simultaneously. Additionally, FSx for NetApp ONTAP offers Multi-AZ deployment types that ensure high availability and redundancy across Availability Zones, satisfying the requirement for AZ-level redundancy.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Option B involves self-managing EC2 instances, which contradicts the requirement for a 'managed AWS storage service' and increases operational overhead. Option C suggests using two different services (Lustre and ONTAP), which fails to consolidate the file servers into a single solution and does not allow sharing between protocols from one logical entity. Option D, S3 File Gateway, only supports NFS; it cannot serve SMB shares to Windows clients, thus failing the multi-protocol requirement.

Community Comment Notes

Community consensus strongly supports Option A, citing official documentation that confirms FSx for NetApp ONTAP's multi-protocol support. Users noted that features like 'Multi-Protocol Support' are key differentiators for ONTAP compared to other FSx offerings. As one commenter highlighted, the ability to use Single-AZ and Multi-AZ deployment types makes it ideal for high availability requirements.

Official Reference

https://aws.amazon.com/fsx/netapp-ontap/features/

This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

When asked for a managed file storage service supporting multiple protocols, immediately consider FSx for NetApp ONTAP. Remember that FSx for Lustre is HPC-focused (NFS only), and S3 File Gateway is limited to NFS, so they cannot handle SMB traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does S3 File Gateway support SMB?

No, Amazon S3 File Gateway only exposes data via the NFS protocol. It cannot serve SMB shares to Windows clients.

Can FSx for Lustre support SMB?

No, FSx for Lustre is optimized for high-performance computing and only supports the NFS protocol.

More SAA-C03 FAQ →

Community Votes

A
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 5 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 5

  1. ccceb01 👍 3 Answered A
    https://aws.amazon.com/fsx/netapp-ontap/
  2. Jeyaluxshan 👍 2
    Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP uses Single-AZ and Multi-AZ deployment types. You can choose from four options: Single-AZ 1, Single-AZ 2, Multi-AZ 1, and Multi-AZ 2
  3. example_ 👍 2 Answered A
    https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/storage/enabling-multiprotocol-workloads-with-amazon-fsx-for-netapp-ontap/
  4. FlyingHawk 👍 1 Answered A
    https://aws.amazon.com/fsx/netapp-ontap/features/ Key Features of Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP: Multi-Protocol Support: Simultaneously supports SMB, NFS, and iSCSI protocols. Multi-AZ Redundancy: Provides high availability and automatic failover across Availability Zones. Scalability: Scales storage capacity and performance independently. Data Management: Includes advanced features like snapshots, cloning, and data deduplication. Integration: Seamlessly integrates with AWS services and on-premises environments.
  5. komorebi 👍 2 Answered A
    Answer is A

Reader comments & corrections

No reader corrections yet — spotted an error or have a note? Share it below.

Log in to comment, report an error, or add a note about this question.

Submitted for moderation before publishing. Keep it helpful and respectful.

S3 Multi-Region Access Point and Replication Strategy

S-grade

Securing NLB with Security Groups for Minimal Change

S-grade

Most Cost-Effective 7-Year Retention for EBS Snapshots?

S-grade

AWS Forecast vs SageMaker for Time-Series Prediction

S-grade

Practice All SAA-C03 Questions

Access 120 questions with complete answers and detailed explanations.

View Full SAA-C03 Practice Test →

← Back to SAA-C03 Study Guide