How does ONTAP handle multi-path access (MPIO/NPIV)?

• A. It uses a single host path.
• B. It supports multiple host paths to storage to improve redundancy and performance via LIFs and path management.
• C. It requires NPIV to function.
• D. It disables path management.

Answer: (B)

ONTAP supports multiple host paths to storage to boost redundancy and performance by using LIFs (logical interfaces) and path management. It presents storage to hosts through one or more LIFs, and its path management continuously monitors each path, performs failover if a path drops, and can balance I/O across multiple healthy paths. In Fibre Channel environments, NPIV allows more virtual ports on a single HBA, increasing the number of available paths to the same volume, which ONTAP can utilize. On the host side, MPIO works with these multiple paths to spread I/O and improve throughput, while ONTAP ensures continued access by switching traffic to any remaining good paths if one fails.