A NetApp AFF system has a large portion of space used by inactive data. To free space for active data while still accessing inactive data, which NetApp product should be used?

• A. BlueXP edge caching
• B. BlueXP tiering
• C. BlueXP backup and recovery
• D. Cloud Volumes ONTAP

Answer: (B)

When you want to free space on the primary AFF for active data while still keeping inactive data accessible, moving that data to a lower-cost tier is the right approach. BlueXP tiering automates policy-driven data tiering from the primary AFF to object storage or other cheaper tiers, so infrequently used data is relocated and space is reclaimed for active workloads. The data remains accessible because the system keeps lightweight references and retrieves items on demand when they’re accessed, making the transition seamless for users and applications.

Edge caching focuses on bringing frequently used data closer to users, not on long-term space reclamation. Backup and recovery protects data but doesn’t free up primary storage. Cloud Volumes ONTAP is about running ONTAP in the cloud and doesn’t inherently perform on-prem tiering to reclaim space.