The HPE0-J68 Storage Solutions Certification is more than just an exam—it is a professional gateway into enterprise-level storage design, implementation, and optimization using HPE’s powerful technology portfolio. Whether you're aiming to transition into a storage architect role, enhance your technical credibility, or move toward cloud-integrated infrastructure mastery, this certification represents both technical depth and practical excellence.
This 8-week study plan is designed for focused learners who want to study systematically, build real-world skills, and walk into the exam fully confident. Each week targets a key domain from the official exam objectives and breaks it down into digestible daily goals. Instead of passive reading, you’ll be actively building:
Working knowledge through structured tasks
Memory strength through flashcards and spaced repetition
Practical skill through diagrams, scenarios, and written procedures
Confidence through quizzes, simulations, and weekly reflection
You will be using proven learning strategies—such as the Pomodoro technique for time management and the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve for long-term retention—to make your preparation not only efficient but durable.
By the end of this journey, you will not only be able to explain core concepts such as RAID, SAN, snapshots, and replication—you’ll be able to recommend, deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot enterprise HPE storage environments with confidence. From pre-installation planning and host integration to performance tuning and cloud-native monitoring, your knowledge will be exam-ready and field-proven.
HPE0-J68 Week 1 Study Plan
Domain Focus: Differentiate and Apply Foundational Storage Architectures and Technologies
Weekly Goal: Build a strong conceptual and technical foundation in core enterprise storage architectures (DAS, NAS, SAN, Object), key protocols, RAID levels, and data optimization techniques such as snapshots, cloning, and tiering.
Day 1 – Enterprise Storage Overview + DAS (Direct-Attached Storage)
Objective: Understand all major storage architectures and focus on how DAS works.
Tasks:
Read an introductory article or chapter on enterprise storage categories.
Write definitions and use cases for DAS, NAS, SAN, and Object Storage.
Study DAS in detail: connection types (SATA, SAS), local-only scope, low-cost/high-speed.
Draw a simple system diagram showing a DAS-connected server and disks.
Create 5 flashcards covering DAS features, protocols, and limitations.
Evening Review: Revisit key terms and rephrase the differences between DAS and NAS aloud.
Day 2 – NAS (Network-Attached Storage) + NFS/SMB Protocols
Objective: Learn the architecture and operational models of NAS and its file-based access protocols.
Tasks:
Read about NAS: centralized file storage, Ethernet-based sharing, scalability benefits.
Study NFS and SMB/CIFS protocols: stateless vs stateful, OS compatibility, performance.
Draw a NAS deployment architecture with 3 client systems (Windows, Linux, Mac).
Create a NAS vs DAS comparison table (performance, access, scalability).
Create 6 flashcards: NAS structure, NFS/SMB differences, and protocol layers.
Evening Review: Recap flashcards from Day 1 and try explaining NFS to someone in plain English.
Day 3 – SAN (Storage Area Network) + FC, iSCSI, FCoE Protocols
Objective: Understand SAN architecture and compare Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and FCoE.
Tasks:
Study block-level SAN architecture, zoning, LUN masking, and multi-pathing.
Learn about Fibre Channel: WWNs, FC switches, host bus adapters (HBAs).
Study iSCSI and FCoE as alternatives: pros, cons, infrastructure needs.
Draw a dual-path SAN layout with zoning and controller failover.
Build 8 flashcards: SAN topology, protocol pros/cons, redundancy mechanisms.
Write a short paragraph: “When to use SAN over NAS in a mid-sized environment.”
Evening Review: Return to flashcards from Day 2 and do a mini 5-question protocol drill.
Day 4 – Object Storage and RESTful Access
Objective: Grasp how object storage handles unstructured data and uses APIs for access.
Tasks:
Read about object storage: flat namespace, metadata, scalability, REST-based access.
Learn about Amazon S3 APIs: PUT, GET, DELETE operations and access keys.
Study HPE Scality RING or similar solution for enterprise object storage.
Draw a workflow diagram of how a client interacts with an object store via REST.
Write a paragraph: “Why object storage is ideal for cloud-native applications.”
Create 6 flashcards: object storage traits, APIs, and cloud integration use cases.
Evening Review: Recap all storage architectures studied so far in one-page notes.
Day 5 – RAID Levels (0, 1, 5, 6, 10) and Storage Redundancy
Objective: Understand redundancy, performance, and capacity tradeoffs across RAID levels.
Tasks:
Study the structure and fault tolerance of RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10.
Draw visual layouts of RAID 5 and RAID 6 (striping + parity).
Create a comparison chart: RAID level vs performance, protection, rebuild risk.
Study how HPE Smart Array implements RAID on MSA and ProLiant systems.
Write 5 flashcards: RAID type properties, use cases, and rebuild behavior.
Take a 10-question RAID quiz and reflect on missed questions.
Evening Review: Recap RAID with a narrated explanation (record yourself or write it).
Day 6 – Thin Provisioning, Tiering, Snapshots, and Clones
Objective: Learn how modern arrays optimize performance and space usage.
Tasks:
Read about thin provisioning: virtual vs physical allocation, risks of overcommitment.
Study tiered storage: SSD, HDD, and automatic data movement policies.
Understand snapshots (copy-on-write) vs clones (full copies); real-world examples.
Draw a data lifecycle diagram showing snapshot scheduling and expiration.
Write a short use case: “How thin provisioning and snapshots save cost in dev/test.”
Create 6 flashcards: provisioning types, snapshot logic, clone behavior.
Evening Review: Recap all optimization features learned and match them to real HPE products (e.g., Nimble SmartSnap, Alletra thin provisioning).
Day 7 – Weekly Review and Self-Evaluation
Objective: Consolidate Week 1 learning, identify weak points, and prepare for deeper technical content next week.
Tasks:
Review all flashcards (goal: 50+ by now). Focus on terms you rated “uncertain” or “forgotten.”
Take a 25-question mixed-topic quiz covering all 6 days’ topics.
Check answers, write explanations for mistakes in your notes.
Create a mind map connecting DAS, NAS, SAN, Object, RAID, and snapshots.
Write a 1-page reflection: What was clear? What needs rework? What surprised you?
Preview Week 2 study goals: introduction to HPE Alletra, Nimble, Primera, and MSA product lines.
HPE0-J68 Week 2 Study Plan
Domain Focus: Differentiate the Functions, Features, and Capabilities of HPE Storage Products, Solutions, and Warranty Service Offerings
Weekly Goal: Gain deep product-level understanding of HPE’s primary and secondary storage families, key features, protocols supported, integration options, and support service levels. You should be able to identify which product fits which workload and how they differ.
Day 1 – Introduction to HPE Storage Portfolio and the Alletra Family
Objective: Understand the HPE storage family structure and position of the Alletra platform.
Tasks:
Read HPE’s official overview of its storage product lines (Alletra, Nimble, Primera, MSA, StoreOnce, etc.).
Focus on the positioning and architecture of HPE Alletra 5000, 6000, and 9000.
Create a comparison chart: Alletra models vs performance, use case, and supported protocols.
Read about Data Services Cloud Console and intent-based provisioning.
Study InfoSight integration and Alletra’s predictive support capabilities.
Create 6 flashcards: Alletra models, protocol support, architecture differences.
Evening Review: Recap the differences between Alletra 6000 and 9000 in your own words.
Day 2 – HPE Nimble Storage: Architecture and Features
Objective: Understand Nimble’s CASL architecture, key product models, and predictive analytics.
Tasks:
Read about CASL (Cache Accelerated Sequential Layout): how it optimizes writes and performance.
Study the two product lines: Adaptive Flash Arrays and All-Flash Arrays.
Learn Nimble’s InfoSight Predictive Analytics, SmartSnap, SmartClone, and Triple+ Parity RAID.
Draw a simplified architecture diagram: Host → Nimble Array → InfoSight Feedback Loop.
Write a summary of how Nimble improves reliability using InfoSight.
Create 6 flashcards covering Nimble’s architecture, features, and backup capabilities.
Evening Review: Review your Alletra flashcards and compare with Nimble features.
Day 3 – HPE Primera: Tier-0 Mission-Critical Storage
Objective: Understand HPE Primera architecture and high-availability design.
Tasks:
Study the architecture of HPE Primera: NVMe support, multi-node active-active design.
Read about the 100% data availability guarantee and integration with InfoSight and OneView.
Understand how Primera handles controller failover, load balancing, and automatic tiering.
Write a paragraph: “Why Primera is suitable for Tier-0 enterprise workloads.”
Build a table comparing Alletra 9000 vs Primera (architecture, NVMe, HA features).
Create 6 flashcards: Primera benefits, protocols, deployment size, HA.
Evening Review: Recap Alletra, Nimble, and Primera positioning in a written table.
Day 4 – HPE MSA (Modular Smart Array): Entry-Level Solutions
Objective: Understand the features and use cases of the MSA 2062 and its target market.
Tasks:
Study the MSA family, focusing on the MSA 2062 model: dual controllers, hybrid arrays.
Learn about supported protocols (iSCSI, SAS, FC), GUI-based management, and RAID support.
Draw a small office topology: 2 servers, 1 MSA, dual paths.
Compare MSA and Nimble in terms of automation, performance, and cost.
Create 5 flashcards on MSA features, limitations, and protocols supported.
Write a paragraph: “When to recommend MSA over Nimble or Alletra.”
Evening Review: Return to Day 2 & 3 flashcards and test 10 random cards.
Day 5 – HPE StoreOnce and StoreEver (Secondary Storage and Archiving)
Objective: Understand HPE’s backup and long-term data protection solutions.
Tasks:
Read about HPE StoreOnce: deduplication, Catalyst protocol, integration with Veeam, Commvault, and HPE RMC.
Study StoreEver (LTO tape storage) and its use in air-gapped, long-term retention.
Draw a backup flow: Production → StoreOnce → Cloud or Tape (StoreEver).
Write use cases for StoreOnce in ransomware protection and backup window optimization.
Create 6 flashcards on StoreOnce, Catalyst, deduplication, and StoreEver air-gap features.
Evening Review: Revisit all previous products and test yourself: Which product suits which need?
Day 6 – HPE InfoSight, OneView, and RMC (Software Integration)
Objective: Understand the role of software tools in managing and protecting storage infrastructure.
Tasks:
Study InfoSight: what telemetry is collected, how it predicts issues, and its global learning capability.
Learn about HPE OneView for centralized provisioning, firmware compliance, and Synergy integration.
Read about RMC (Recovery Manager Central): snapshot-based VM and app-integrated backup.
Write a paragraph explaining how InfoSight helps reduce downtime.
Create a table comparing InfoSight, OneView, and RMC (purpose, platform, features).
Create 6 flashcards: InfoSight insights, OneView functions, RMC snapshot strategies.
Evening Review: Recap Week 2 products using a self-written “cheat sheet”.
Day 7 – Warranty and Support Services: Foundation Care, Proactive Care, Datacenter Care
Objective: Understand HPE’s service offerings and support levels.
Tasks:
Study the support tiers: Foundation Care, Proactive Care, and Datacenter Care.
Compare response times, technical account management, and SLA flexibility.
Read about remote support tools: Active Health System, Insight Remote Support, Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP).
Create 4 flashcards summarizing the key differences between each care level.
Take a 20-question self-test covering all products studied this week.
Review missed answers and write short corrections.
Create a mind map: HPE product → use case → protocols → support levels.
Write a reflection: “What did I learn this week? What was the most confusing? What needs to be reviewed again next week?”
HPE0-J68 Week 3 Study Plan
Domain Focus: Plan and Design HPE Storage Solutions
Weekly Goal: Learn how to assess customer requirements, perform workload analysis, and plan scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient HPE storage solutions that align with business and technical needs.
Day 1 – Business and Technical Requirements Gathering
Objective: Understand how to collect and analyze customer storage requirements.
Tasks:
Read about typical business requirements: availability, performance (IOPS/latency), capacity growth, compliance, security, and budget constraints.
Write an example matrix mapping business needs to technical requirements (e.g., “High uptime → active-active controllers”).
Study technical requirements: virtualization platforms, file/block access, protocol needs (iSCSI, FC, NFS, SMB), DR site requirements.
Write a short customer use case: “A regional bank needs to store regulatory data for 7 years with low-latency access.” Identify 3 key requirements.
Create 6 flashcards on types of requirements, examples, and technical translation.
Evening Review: Recap differences between business and technical requirements and their impact on design.
Day 2 – Workload Profiling and Sizing Concepts
Objective: Learn how to classify workloads and determine capacity/performance needs.
Tasks:
Study types of workloads: transactional (e.g., databases), throughput-heavy (e.g., video editing), mixed.
Write summaries for how to recognize each workload type based on I/O patterns.
Learn how to estimate capacity: current data volume, growth rate, RAID overhead, snapshot/replica space.
Study IOPS calculation, queue depth, and bandwidth considerations.
Use a sample workload profile (e.g., “VMware farm with 50 VMs”) and estimate capacity and performance needs.
Create 8 flashcards: workload types, IOPS estimation, latency sensitivity, capacity growth formulas.
Evening Review: Write 3 key formulas or estimation methods you learned today.
Day 3 – Designing for High Availability and Resilience
Objective: Understand fault-tolerant storage design, including redundancy, replication, and snapshot strategies.
Tasks:
Study active-active vs active-passive designs; multipathing and failover.
Read about controller redundancy, redundant networking, and power.
Study snapshot usage for data recovery: scheduled, manual, application-consistent.
Learn replication types: synchronous (zero data loss) vs asynchronous (bandwidth optimized).
Write a solution sketch: “Design a 2-site DR strategy with asynchronous replication and daily snapshots.”
Create 7 flashcards: HA design, snapshot uses, replication types, MPIO.
Evening Review: Recap HA features in HPE Alletra, Nimble, and Primera platforms.
Day 4 – Backup Integration and Protection Design
Objective: Learn how to integrate backup applications and strategies into your storage plan.
Tasks:
Study integrations with Veeam, Commvault, Veritas, and HPE RMC.
Learn how snapshot offloading works with StoreOnce and Cloud Bank Storage.
Review retention policies, backup window planning, RTO and RPO definitions.
Write a scenario: “A retail company wants daily backups with a 1-hour RPO.” Propose a simple backup solution using RMC + StoreOnce.
Draw a backup architecture: Primary Storage → RMC → StoreOnce → Cloud.
Create 6 flashcards: backup software compatibility, RPO/RTO, backup tiers.
Evening Review: Reflect on how backup needs influence initial storage design.
Day 5 – Storage Architecture Design: SAN, NAS, Scale-Out, Protocols
Objective: Choose and design the appropriate architecture and protocol for the customer’s needs.
Tasks:
Study SAN and NAS deployment topologies; scale-up vs scale-out differences.
Learn about protocol selection: FC for mission-critical, iSCSI for SMBs, NFS/SMB for file sharing.
Map protocol to performance and integration needs (e.g., NVMe-oF for AI/ML).
Design 2 architectures: one FC SAN for Oracle DB; one SMB NAS for file sharing in a law firm.
Create 7 flashcards: SAN/NAS differences, use cases, scale-out triggers.
Evening Review: Review your 2 diagrams and explain why your design choices match the use case.
Day 6 – Integration Planning with Applications and Virtual Platforms
Objective: Understand how storage integrates with VMware, Hyper-V, databases, and containers.
Tasks:
Read about storage support for VMware vSphere (VAAI), Hyper-V, and Oracle/SQL.
Study how CSI drivers enable Kubernetes to use persistent volumes.
Write a scenario: “A DevOps team runs Docker containers and needs persistent storage for CI/CD pipelines.” Propose an HPE CSI-compatible solution.
Create an integration matrix: HPE platform vs supported applications and features.
Create 6 flashcards: integrations with VMware, Kubernetes, Oracle, and Hyper-V.
Evening Review: Recap the integration benefits of Nimble, Alletra, and Primera.
Day 7 – Tools and Planning Resources (NinjaSTARS, Sizers, OCA, SPOCK)
Objective: Get familiar with HPE sizing and planning tools to ensure accurate designs.
Tasks:
Study HPE NinjaSTARS: sizing for Nimble and Alletra.
Learn how to use HPE Storage Sizer for workload estimation.
Explore OCA (One Config Advanced) for quoting and design.
Read how HPE SPOCK validates compatibility with OS, firmware, HBAs.
Create a quick reference table: tool name → purpose → when to use.
Do a mock sizing task: “Design 50 TB storage for a SQL cluster with 30K IOPS.” Use sizer documentation to sketch out disk and array type.
Evening Review: Write a summary of which tool helps you at each design stage.
HPE0-J68 Week 4 Study Plan
Domain Focus: Describe, Differentiate, and Apply IT Industry Trends, Standard Architectures, Technologies, and Cloud Delivery Models
Weekly Goal: Develop a strategic understanding of how modern storage fits within enterprise IT trends such as digital transformation, edge computing, cloud services, hyperconverged infrastructure, and composable systems. By the end of the week, you should be able to map HPE technologies to contemporary IT use cases.
Day 1 – Digital Transformation and Data Explosion
Objective: Understand the drivers behind enterprise infrastructure change and the impact on storage design.
Tasks:
Study digital transformation: definition, strategic goals, and how it changes IT procurement and operations.
Read about global data growth projections (e.g., 175+ zettabytes by 2025) and their implications.
Write a reflection: “What changes in storage architecture are necessary due to data explosion?”
Create 5 flashcards: digital transformation drivers, data growth impact, real-time analytics trends.
Evening Review: Identify 3 HPE products aligned with digital transformation goals (e.g., GreenLake, Alletra, InfoSight).
Day 2 – Edge Computing and AI/ML Storage Needs
Objective: Learn how storage adapts to edge and data-intensive AI workloads.
Tasks:
Read about edge computing use cases (IoT, manufacturing, healthcare).
Study edge storage design: small form factor, low latency, cloud-connected.
Explore AI/ML workflows: large-scale I/O, parallel storage access, and NVMe performance.
Create a visual chart: Centralized Storage vs Edge Storage characteristics.
Write a short case: “Design storage for a remote energy station running edge analytics.”
Create 6 flashcards: edge use cases, AI storage traits, NVMe over Fabrics.
Evening Review: Connect AI/edge use cases to specific HPE products (e.g., Alletra 6000 with NVMe-oF).
Day 3 – Cybersecurity and Ransomware Protection in Storage
Objective: Understand the role of storage in data security and resilience.
Tasks:
Study storage-level ransomware defenses: snapshots, air-gapped backups, immutability.
Read about StoreOnce’s role in backup integrity and cyber resilience.
Learn about data-at-rest encryption (DARE), WORM storage, and audit logging.
Create a checklist of security features to look for in a storage system.
Write a scenario: “How to protect an HPE environment from ransomware using StoreOnce and immutable snapshots.”
Create 5 flashcards: WORM, DARE, immutability, air-gap methods, StoreOnce Catalyst.
Evening Review: Summarize 3 key differences between traditional backup and cyber-resilient backup.
Day 4 – Traditional Architectures: 3-Tier, Converged, and Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)
Objective: Compare and contrast traditional and modern data center architectures.
Tasks:
Study 3-tier architecture: compute, network, storage.
Read about Converged Infrastructure (CI): pre-integrated compute/storage/network (e.g., HPE ConvergedSystem).
Dive into Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI): shared resources, VM-centric, deduplication, SimpliVity.
Draw comparison diagrams: 3-tier vs CI vs HCI.
Write a short justification: “Why choose HCI for a 5-site retail deployment?”
Create 6 flashcards: architectural traits, CI vs HCI, HPE SimpliVity benefits.
Evening Review: Review HCI features and integration with VMware or Hyper-V.
Day 5 – Composable Infrastructure and HPE Synergy
Objective: Understand how composable systems use software-defined infrastructure for flexibility and automation.
Tasks:
Study the concept of composable infrastructure: pooled resources, software-defined templates, API control.
Learn about HPE Synergy and its integration with HPE OneView.
Write a technical explanation: “What is infrastructure-as-code, and how does it help operations teams?”
Explore real-world uses: dynamic VM provisioning, DevOps environments, CI/CD pipelines.
Create a diagram showing compute/storage/network as composable resources.
Create 6 flashcards: Synergy features, OneView capabilities, composable vs converged.
Evening Review: Recap OneView’s role in managing Synergy environments.
Day 6 – Cloud Models: Public, Private, Hybrid, and Multi-Cloud
Objective: Differentiate cloud delivery models and understand their influence on storage planning.
Tasks:
Review public cloud traits (e.g., AWS, Azure), pricing models, egress costs, and control limitations.
Learn private cloud features: on-premise, virtualization, automation, self-service.
Study hybrid cloud: data tiering, bursting, cloud backup.
Understand multi-cloud: interoperability, policy-based management.
Write a chart comparing all 4 models: architecture, pros/cons, when to use.
Create 6 flashcards: public vs private vs hybrid vs multi-cloud traits.
Evening Review: Map HPE solutions to cloud models (e.g., GreenLake for hybrid).
Day 7 – Cloud-Native Storage and HPE Cloud Offerings
Objective: Learn how HPE supports cloud-native applications and delivers storage-as-a-service.
Tasks:
Study container-aware storage and CSI plugins for Kubernetes.
Learn how HPE supports Infrastructure as Code with Terraform, Ansible, and Data Services Cloud Console.
Study cloud-native features like immutable storage, zero-trust access, and backup as-a-service.
Read about HPE GreenLake offerings: Storage-as-a-Service, File Services, Cloud Volumes.
Write a final summary: “What makes a storage system cloud-native?”
Create a full-page cheat sheet listing HPE’s cloud offerings and their purpose.
Create 6 flashcards: CSI, IaC, GreenLake services, Ezmeral platform, Cloud Volumes.
Evening Review: Recap the entire week by answering 10 mixed review questions from earlier days.
HPE0-J68 Week 5 Study Plan
Domain Focus: Install the Solution
Weekly Goal: Learn the full process of installing an HPE storage solution—from pre-installation planning, cabling, and powering on hardware, to initial configuration, storage provisioning, and host integration. By the end of this week, you should feel confident walking through a complete installation workflow.
Day 1 – Pre-Installation Planning and Site Readiness
Objective: Understand what needs to be prepared before deploying a storage system.
Tasks:
Study environmental requirements: cooling, airflow, humidity, power redundancy, and rack space.
Learn how to create a cabling plan, including labeling, port mapping, and distance calculations.
Write a checklist of site readiness items for installing an HPE MSA or Nimble system.
Read about network planning: VLANs for iSCSI, FC fabric zoning, jumbo frames.
Explore use of SPOCK (Single Point of Connectivity Knowledge) to verify firmware, drivers, OS compatibility.
Create 5 flashcards on environmental parameters, cabling best practices, and compatibility validation.
Evening Review: Create and review a mock site readiness report for a mid-sized deployment.
Day 2 – Hardware Unboxing, Rack Mounting, and Cabling
Objective: Learn how to physically install an HPE storage system.
Tasks:
Study step-by-step rack installation for Alletra, MSA, and Nimble systems.
Learn how to use anti-static precautions and properly align and secure devices in rack slots.
Read about different cabling types: FC cables, optical SFPs, SAS cables, and Ethernet (Cat6a or fiber).
Watch an installation video if available (e.g., HPE channel) to visualize the process.
Draw a labeled cabling diagram for a dual-controller system connected to switches and hosts.
Create 6 flashcards on controller placement, shelf cabling, and power sequencing.
Evening Review: Revisit your rack/cable diagram and practice explaining it aloud.
Day 3 – Power-On Sequence and Accessing Management Interfaces
Objective: Power on the system correctly and access the GUI/CLI for initial configuration.
Tasks:
Study proper power-on sequence: shelves → controllers → switches → hosts.
Read about default IPs, DHCP/static setup, and how to access management UIs for Alletra, Nimble, MSA, and Primera.
Learn initial setup tasks: system naming, admin credentials, network settings, and NTP configuration.
Write a checklist: “First login tasks for an HPE storage system.”
Create 5 flashcards: power-on order, GUI access methods, IP configuration steps.
Evening Review: Do a verbal run-through of powering on and connecting to the GUI for Nimble or MSA.
Day 4 – Initial Configuration: Storage Pools, RAID, and Volume Creation
Objective: Perform logical setup of storage resources.
Tasks:
Study how to create storage pools or disk groups and assign RAID levels.
Read about HPE array defaults (e.g., auto-tiering, auto-RAID assignment in Nimble).
Learn how to create volumes: size, thin/thick provisioning, snapshot settings.
Draw a logical diagram: 4-disk RAID 5 → pool → 2 volumes → mapped to 2 servers.
Write a use case: “Create 3 volumes for SQL workloads with snapshot every 6 hours.”
Create 6 flashcards: pool creation, volume parameters, provisioning types.
Evening Review: Recap RAID decisions in Alletra vs MSA environments.
Day 5 – Host Integration and Multipath Setup
Objective: Configure host operating systems for proper access and redundancy.
Tasks:
Study how to configure multipath I/O (MPIO) in Windows and Linux.
Read about iSCSI initiator setup, FC zoning review, and IQN/WWN registration in storage GUI.
Write a procedure guide: “How to configure Linux MPIO with iSCSI and connect to an HPE Nimble volume.”
Learn how to format, mount, and test volumes on Linux (ext4/XFS) and Windows (NTFS/ReFS).
Create 7 flashcards on MPIO configuration, initiator group creation, and CHAP authentication.
Evening Review: Practice drawing a host-path-LUN access diagram showing two storage paths and one target.
Day 6 – Testing, Validation, and Health Checks
Objective: Validate that the system is working correctly and establish a performance baseline.
Tasks:
Study how to use GUI or CLI to check array and disk health (e.g., show hardware, show perf stats).
Learn how to run performance tests with tools like FIO (Linux) or DiskSpd (Windows).
Write a checklist: “10 things to verify after completing a storage installation.”
Learn how to enable alerts, configure SNMP/email notification, and connect to InfoSight if supported.
Create 6 flashcards: performance testing tools, health check commands, InfoSight activation.
Evening Review: Do a test run with a sample dataset and record the performance metrics.
Day 7 – Documentation and Best Practices
Objective: Learn what must be documented and how to maintain installation standards.
Tasks:
Study best practices for installation documentation: rack layout, cabling map, configuration backup.
Read about creating admin credential records (securely stored), LUN-to-host mapping sheets, and firmware logs.
Write a post-installation report summary based on a simulated deployment.
Create a visual checklist: what to include in your customer-facing final documentation package.
Create 5 flashcards: documentation elements, secure credential handling, config snapshot importance.
Take a 20-question installation-focused quiz. Review and explain any incorrect answers.
Evening Review: Reflect on the entire installation process and identify your weakest step.
HPE0-J68 Week 6 Study Plan
Domain Focus: Performance-Tune and Optimize an Existing Enterprise HPE Storage Solution
Weekly Goal: Learn how to monitor, assess, and optimize the performance of HPE storage systems. You will identify key metrics, locate bottlenecks across hosts/networks/storage, and apply corrective techniques using both built-in tools and InfoSight analytics.
Day 1 – Key Performance Metrics and Monitoring Concepts
Objective: Understand what metrics define storage performance and how to monitor them.
Tasks:
Study the definitions and importance of latency, IOPS, throughput (MB/s), and queue depth.
Write explanations of how each metric is affected by different types of workloads.
Learn acceptable thresholds (e.g., latency under 1 ms for flash systems).
Create a sample monitoring dashboard layout showing these metrics.
Create 6 flashcards: performance metric definitions, thresholds, and relevance to workload types.
Evening Review: Explain the impact of high queue depth or poor IOPS in two application scenarios (database and backup).
Day 2 – Using HPE InfoSight and Onboard Monitoring Tools
Objective: Learn how to monitor and analyze performance using HPE's built-in tools.
Tasks:
Explore HPE InfoSight features: telemetry collection, global learning, AI recommendations.
Study the dashboards of Alletra OS, Nimble OS, and MSA SMU.
Read about CLI tools (e.g.,
showperf,iostat, OS-based tools likeperfmonon Windows).Write a walkthrough: “How to identify a latency issue using InfoSight’s volume view.”
Create 6 flashcards: InfoSight capabilities, array dashboards, CLI monitoring commands.
Evening Review: Review dashboard screenshots (if available) and practice interpreting a performance trend line.
Day 3 – Host-Level Bottlenecks and Fixes
Objective: Understand how host misconfiguration can affect storage performance.
Tasks:
Study how CPU, memory saturation, MPIO misconfig, and outdated drivers impact performance.
Learn to use tools like Windows Event Viewer, Linux
dmesg, andmultipath -ll.Write a diagnosis guide: “How to identify and fix poor storage throughput on a Linux host.”
Create 5 flashcards: host-side bottlenecks, multipath settings, key OS logs.
Evening Review: Simulate a troubleshooting sequence for a slow database VM on a Nimble array.
Day 4 – Network-Level Bottlenecks and Optimization
Objective: Learn how storage networks can cause latency and how to fix them.
Tasks:
Study iSCSI and FC networking issues: packet loss, port oversubscription, jumbo frames.
Learn about flow control, VLAN separation, and best practices for SAN zoning.
Create a checklist: “10 things to validate in a slow SAN environment.”
Create 6 flashcards: iSCSI MTU settings, FC port speeds, Ethernet congestion signs.
Evening Review: Draw a problematic SAN scenario and highlight where latency may occur.
Day 5 – Storage Array-Level Optimization
Objective: Tune internal array settings to optimize data layout and controller performance.
Tasks:
Learn about workload balancing across controllers, disk groups, and tiers.
Study snapshot schedules and clone sprawl as contributors to latency.
Write a tuning strategy for “A volume with high latency and multiple clones in Nimble.”
Explore performance policies and caching (write-back, SSD tier usage).
Create 6 flashcards: performance tuning actions, controller balancing, clone optimization.
Evening Review: Describe how auto-tiering in Alletra improves sustained throughput.
Day 6 – Advanced Features: QoS, Thin Provisioning, Compression, Deduplication
Objective: Use advanced technologies to control or improve performance.
Tasks:
Study QoS (Quality of Service): IOPS limiting, noisy neighbor isolation.
Learn the pros and risks of thin provisioning: overcommitment and monitoring.
Understand how deduplication and compression save space but affect CPU and latency.
Write a best-practices guide: “Using QoS and deduplication effectively on HPE Nimble.”
Create 6 flashcards: thin provisioning impact, QoS application, dedupe metrics.
Evening Review: Practice reading and interpreting dedupe ratio and thin provisioning efficiency reports.
Day 7 – Proactive Maintenance, Firmware Updates, and Documentation
Objective: Build a sustainable optimization routine using proactive practices.
Tasks:
Study how firmware updates fix known performance bugs.
Learn how to monitor capacity headroom and act before reaching 80–85%.
Write a monthly health check plan: what to check, how often, and what tools to use.
Create a performance tuning report template for customer delivery.
Take a 20-question quiz focused on performance scenarios and tuning recommendations.
Create 5 flashcards: firmware update process, capacity threshold rules, InfoSight recommendations.
Evening Review: Reflect on the most common sources of performance problems and how to fix them.
HPE0-J68 Week 7 Study Plan
Domain Focus:
Troubleshoot Common Storage Failures in Typical Workload Environments
Administer and Operate Enterprise HPE Storage Solutions
Monitor Enterprise HPE Storage Solutions
Weekly Goal:
Develop real-world operational skills for identifying and resolving storage failures, performing routine administration, and using monitoring tools for proactive management. By the end of the week, you should be able to detect, analyze, and act on common storage issues in live enterprise environments.
Day 1 – Troubleshooting Methodology and Failure Domains
Objective: Build a structured approach to troubleshooting and understand where problems typically originate.
Tasks:
Study the steps of Root Cause Analysis (RCA): symptom identification, fault isolation, investigation, resolution, documentation.
Read how to use logs, alerts, and InfoSight to begin triage.
Learn the difference between host-level, network-level, and array-level issues.
Write a fault domain mapping example: “User reports slow application. What layers need to be examined?”
Create 6 flashcards: RCA steps, fault domains, tools used at each stage.
Evening Review: Create a short flowchart for your personal troubleshooting framework.
Day 2 – Host and Network Layer Failures
Objective: Understand the symptoms, causes, and resolutions for host-side and network-layer issues.
Tasks:
Study host connectivity symptoms: LUNs disappearing, path failures, access denial.
Read about misconfigured multipath, outdated drivers, zoning errors, and MTU mismatch.
Practice reading sample Linux (
multipath -ll,dmesg) and Windows (Device Manager, Event Viewer) logs.Write a troubleshooting guide: “Diagnosing an iSCSI failure in Windows using Event Viewer and Storage GUI.”
Create 6 flashcards: host tools, network bottlenecks, zoning issues, path recovery.
Evening Review: Review your host vs network troubleshooting steps in an oral simulation.
Day 3 – Performance Degradation and Array-Level Failures
Objective: Identify signs of performance decline and hardware failures inside the storage array.
Tasks:
Study common symptoms: latency spikes, unbalanced workloads, snapshot overflow.
Read about controller failures, RAID rebuild latency, SSD wear-out indicators.
Learn how to access and interpret logs from Nimble/Alletra/Primera (e.g., show hardware, show perf).
Write a case study: “Nimble array reports rising latency and a degraded RAID group. What do you do?”
Create 6 flashcards: array fault symptoms, common causes, key CLI commands.
Evening Review: Revisit 3 real support cases (HPE examples or community forums).
Day 4 – Storage Administration: Volume and Access Management
Objective: Perform common tasks such as volume creation, access provisioning, and space management.
Tasks:
Study how to create, resize, delete volumes; assign them to access groups or hosts.
Learn iSCSI/FC access configuration: WWN, IQN, CHAP setup.
Read about LUN masking, initiator groups, and MPIO path assignment.
Write a task guide: “Provision 3 volumes and assign to two Windows servers with redundancy.”
Create 6 flashcards: provisioning steps, access group setup, MPIO verification.
Evening Review: Simulate a complete volume provisioning session with screenshot notes or mock CLI commands.
Day 5 – Snapshot, Cloning, Replication, and Backup Integration
Objective: Manage data protection tasks in day-to-day operations.
Tasks:
Study snapshot scheduling, retention, and space impact on Nimble/Primera.
Read about replication options (synchronous/asynchronous), RMC-based VM backups.
Learn to offload snapshots to StoreOnce and how to use SmartClone for test/dev.
Write a backup integration summary: “How to protect VMware VMs using RMC + StoreOnce.”
Create 6 flashcards: snapshot policy, replication setup, deduplication offload.
Evening Review: Draw a full data protection workflow from source volume to backup storage.
Day 6 – Monitoring Tools: InfoSight, Dashboards, SNMP, Syslog
Objective: Set up and use monitoring tools for real-time and predictive analysis.
Tasks:
Learn how to navigate InfoSight dashboards and health alerts.
Read about setting SNMP traps, email alerts, and integrating with SolarWinds or Zabbix.
Study how to configure syslog forwarding and wellness summaries.
Write a setup checklist: “Enable real-time alerts and log forwarding on Nimble.”
Create 6 flashcards: InfoSight layers, alert thresholds, SNMP configuration.
Evening Review: Review your monitoring checklist and match each item to the right platform.
Day 7 – Weekly Review + Full Troubleshooting Simulation
Objective: Reinforce the week's learning with practical troubleshooting and operations testing.
Tasks:
Review all flashcards (50+). Focus on ones marked “uncertain.”
Take a 25-question practice test focused on troubleshooting, admin, and monitoring.
Write out detailed solutions for any incorrect answers.
Perform a written simulation: “Volume inaccessible on host. Walk through full RCA.”
Build a checklist for on-call procedures: what to check first, which logs to pull, who to notify.
Evening Reflection: List the 3 types of failures you're most confident handling now—and 2 you still need to practice.
HPE0-J68 Week 8 Study Plan
Domain Focus: Comprehensive Review and Exam Readiness
Weekly Goal: Strengthen retention, eliminate weak spots, simulate exam pressure, and finalize preparation with strategic confidence. This week is about reinforcement, timed practice, and exam tactics.
Day 1 – Full-Domain Concept Review (Days 1–3 Recap)
Objective: Review Domains 1 to 3:
Storage architectures and technologies
HPE products, features, and services
Planning and design principles
Tasks:
Re-read your notes and diagrams on DAS, NAS, SAN, Object, and RAID levels.
Review HPE Alletra, Nimble, Primera, MSA, StoreOnce, and InfoSight.
Practice summarizing when to choose which product for specific scenarios.
Redraw your concept maps from Week 1 and Week 2 from memory.
Take a 20-question mixed quiz on Domains 1–3.
Create or revise 10 flashcards focused on weak spots.
Evening Review: Teach these domains out loud to simulate explaining to a peer.
Day 2 – Full-Domain Concept Review (Days 4–5 Recap)
Objective: Review Domains 4 and 5:
Industry trends, architectures, and cloud models
Installation workflows
Tasks:
Review diagrams comparing 3-tier vs CI vs HCI vs composable.
Study GreenLake offerings and HPE’s cloud-native architecture.
Revisit all installation checklists, from site prep to GUI login and pool creation.
Write a memory-based install flow: “Install and configure an HPE Nimble array from scratch.”
Do a 15-question quiz focused on cloud architecture, deployment, and installation steps.
Evening Review: Redo 2 practice diagrams from scratch (e.g., SAN layout, hybrid cloud flow).
Day 3 – Full-Domain Concept Review (Days 6–7 Recap)
Objective: Review Domains 6 and 7:
Performance tuning and optimization
Troubleshooting and failure diagnostics
Tasks:
Review latency, IOPS, queue depth thresholds, and troubleshooting workflows.
Study InfoSight, CLI monitoring, host network bottlenecks, and RAID rebuild signs.
Revisit your tuning plan, firmware update strategies, and controller balancing methods.
Take a 20-question quiz on performance and failure domains.
Write a scenario response: “A volume reports high latency—how do you diagnose and fix it?”
Evening Review: Explain aloud how to use InfoSight to detect a failing disk group.
Day 4 – Full-Domain Concept Review (Days 7 Recap + Admin/Monitoring)
Objective: Review Domains 8 and 9:
Storage administration and monitoring
Real-time operations and proactive tools
Tasks:
Review how to provision volumes, assign access, schedule snapshots, and configure replication.
Refresh SNMP, syslog, and InfoSight alerting setup.
Write a workflow: “Administer daily operations for 3 production volumes and backup to StoreOnce.”
Take a 15-question mini-test: Administration and Monitoring focus.
Rebuild 1 mind map: Admin Tasks → Tools → Alerts/Reports.
Evening Review: Recap 5 InfoSight insights you didn’t know before Week 6.
Day 5 – Full-Length Mock Exam + Score Review
Objective: Simulate full exam under test conditions and analyze weak areas.
Tasks:
Take a full-length, 60-question timed practice exam (limit: 90 minutes).
Score your exam and categorize errors: content confusion vs time management vs carelessness.
Identify the 3 weakest domains based on your results.
For each missed question, write a 2-sentence “Why I got this wrong” explanation.
Create a 10-question personalized quiz based on your misses and reattempt them.
Evening Review: Reflect on your exam stamina and whether you needed more time.
Day 6 – Targeted Weak Area Review + Strategy Refinement
Objective: Fill in last-minute knowledge gaps based on mock exam results.
Tasks:
Review flashcards and notes for your 3 weakest domains.
Practice explaining each previously missed question out loud.
Draw 2 diagrams that caused confusion during testing.
Redo your Day 5 quiz and aim for 100%.
Write your final study sheet: “Top 20 must-remember facts before the exam.”
Evening Review: Meditate or breathe deeply for 10 minutes and rest the brain—no screen time 1 hour before sleep.
Day 7 – Light Review + Exam Readiness Checklist
Objective: Ensure you're mentally, physically, and academically ready for the exam.
Tasks:
Light flashcard revision (only weak and unsure ones—max 30 mins).
Review your final “Top 20 Facts” sheet.
Walk through your test-day plan: exam login, breaks, ID, mindset.
Print or prepare your confirmation email and test access info.
Visualize a successful result.
Get proper sleep (at least 7–8 hours).