What is the minimum number of Dell Avamar active storage nodes required for a supported RAIN configuration?

A supported Dell Avamar multi-node server featuring a RAIN (Redundant Array of Independent Nodes) configuration requires a minimum of three active storage nodes and one utility node. This establishes the smallest supported grid as a four-node system (3+1).

The question specifically asks for the minimum number of storage nodes, which is technically 3. However, since 3 is not an available option, the most plausible answer is 4. This choice represents the total number of nodes in the minimum supported RAIN configuration, indicating a likely ambiguity in the question's phrasing between "storage nodes" and "total nodes."

A. A two-node configuration is insufficient for the N+1 parity-based data protection mechanism that is fundamental to Avamar's RAIN architecture.

B. 352 is an invalid number for a minimum node count and is likely a distractor related to maximum capacity or another metric.

D. While a five-storage-node grid is a valid and supported configuration, it is not the minimum number required to establish a RAIN grid.

1. Dell Avamar 19.7 Administration Guide, Page 22, "Avamar server architecture": "A multi-node server consists of a utility node and three or more storage nodes. The utility node and the storage nodes are connected by a network switch. This configuration is known as an Avamar grid."

2. Dell EMC Avamar Technical and Operational Overview, Page 6, "Avamar server architecture": "A multi-node Avamar server consists of a single utility node and from 3 to 16 storage nodes." This explicitly states the minimum number of storage nodes is three.

3. Dell Avamar Data Store Gen4T Hardware and User Guide, Page 12, "Multi-node server configurations": The document describes the smallest multi-node configurations (e.g., 2.4 TB) as consisting of one utility node and three storage nodes.