The EMC Specialist - Technology Architect, XtremIO Solutions and Design exam has a reputation for tripping up even experienced candidates. Working through 68 realistic practice questions from ActualCollection exposes your weak spots before exam day does.
EMC E20-526 Exam Overview:
| Certification Vendor: | Dell Technologies / EMC |
|---|---|
| Exam Name: | Specialist – Technology Architect, XtremIO Solutions and Design Exam |
| Exam Number: | E20-526 |
| Exam Price: | Varies by region (e.g., ~$230 USD typical list price) |
| Passing Score: | 63 |
| Exam Duration: | 90 minutes |
| Real Exam Qty: | Approximately 60 |
| Certificate Validity Period: | Certification does not expire once earned |
| Available Languages: | English |
| Exam Format: | Multiple-choice |
| Related Certifications: | Dell XtremIO Design Achievement (D-XTR-DS-A-24) Associate - Information Storage and Management |
| Sample Questions: | ![]() |
| Exam Way: | Delivered through authorized test delivery partners (such as Pearson VUE); online proctored options where available |
| Pre Condition: | Achievement of an Associate level storage certification (e.g., Associate - Information Storage and Management) is required before attempting this specialist exam. After February 3, 2024 the exam has been retired and transitioned to the Dell XtremIO Design Achievement (D-XTR-DS-A-24). |
| Official Syllabus URL: | https://learning.dell.com/ |
EMC E20-526 Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Weight | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Data Gathering and Analysis | 13% | - Collect and analyse environment data for design purposes |
| Positioning XtremIO and X2 | 12% | - Describe use-cases and solution positioning |
| Host Configurations in XtremIO and X2 Environments | 15% | - Describe host configurations such as HBAs and multipathing - Describe OS specific configurations (Windows, Linux, ESXi, etc.) |
| Designing an XtremIO X2 Solution | 27% | - Design high-performance, high-availability XtremIO solutions |
| XtremIO X2 Data Replication | 7% | - Describe replication technologies and integration (e.g., RecoverPoint) |
| XtremIO and X2 Operations and Management | 20% | - Identify and describe XtremIO X2 hardware and software components - Describe architectural differences and management of XtremIO X2 - Use GUI and CLI to manage XtremIO X2 |
| XtremIO X2 Optimization and Performance Management | 6% | - Explain performance optimization methods |
Answers Every E20-526 Candidate Should Read First
The EMC Specialist - Technology Architect, XtremIO Solutions and Design exam is the official Dell Technologies / EMC test registered under exam code E20-526. Passing it earns you the EMCTA XtremIO Solutions certification, a credential at the Specialist level. It is also linked to the related certifications: Associate - Information Storage and Management, Dell XtremIO Design Achievement (D-XTR-DS-A-24). Dell Technologies / EMC exams are valued because they test job-ready skills, so a passing score here carries real weight on a resume.
The EMC Specialist - Technology Architect, XtremIO Solutions and Design exam includes Approximately 60 questions to be completed within 90 minutes. Do the pacing math before exam day: with that many items on the clock, you need a steady rhythm and the discipline to flag a hard question and move on instead of stalling. Two or three full timed sessions with the ActualCollection test engine will show you exactly what that pace feels like, so time pressure stops being a factor on the real day.
To pass the EMC Specialist - Technology Architect, XtremIO Solutions and Design exam you need 63, and the official registration fee is Varies by region (e.g., ~$230 USD typical list price). A retake is not discounted: a failed attempt means paying the full Varies by region (e.g., ~$230 USD typical list price) again, so treat your first sitting as the expensive one. A sensible rule is to book your seat only after you are scoring comfortably above the passing mark on the ActualCollection practice tests, not just squeaking past it once.
Achievement of an Associate level storage certification (e.g., Associate - Information Storage and Management) is required before attempting this specialist exam. After February 3, 2024 the exam has been retired and transitioned to the Dell XtremIO Design Achievement (D-XTR-DS-A-24).
Eligibility rules do change from time to time, so confirm the current requirements before you register on the official exam page.
Yes. ActualCollection offers a free PDF demo of the EMC Specialist - Technology Architect, XtremIO Solutions and Design material so you can judge the question quality and format before spending anything. After purchase, your license includes 365 days of free updates, and if you want to keep receiving updates after that period, renewals are available at a 50% discount.
If you take the EMC Specialist - Technology Architect, XtremIO Solutions and Design exam within 60 days of your purchase and do not pass, ActualCollection backs you with a 100% money-back guarantee. The claim must match the exam your product covers: attempts taken within 3 days of purchase are not eligible (that is too little preparation time), and neither are downloaded-but-unused products, free materials, or expired orders. The candidate name must match the payer name, and you need to submit a scanned enrollment slip plus the official Score Report PDF within 2 days of the exam; claims are processed within 7 days. Prefer not to refund? You can swap instead and receive two other exam products of equal value for free while keeping the update service on your original purchase.
Delivery itself is instant: your files are downloadable right away and emailed to you within one minute of payment. If nothing arrives within 2 hours, contact customer service. There is no limit on how many computers you may install the software on.
The official EMC Specialist - Technology Architect, XtremIO Solutions and Design syllabus is organized into 7 domains. Key areas include Positioning XtremIO and X2 (12%), XtremIO X2 Optimization and Performance Management (6%), and Host Configurations in XtremIO and X2 Environments (15%). The complete, up-to-date topic list appears in the exam topics section above; work through it line by line and flag anything you cannot yet explain in your own words.
EMC Specialist - Technology Architect, XtremIO Solutions and Design Sample Questions:
A customer has a large ESX server environment they are considering deploying to XtremIO for a VDI implementation. To determine a baseline of the environment, you are proceeding with documenting each server's CPU, NIC, and disk utilization statistics. The customer has provided you with direct CLI access to the servers to conduct this assessment.
Which utility should be used to monitor these performance parameters?
- A. iostat
- B. top
- C. esxtop
- D. resxtop
Correct Answer: D 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for ActualCollection members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
When installing a physical XtremIO Management Server (XMS) station, which requirement must be met?
- A. XMS must be able to access all management ports on at least two X-Brick storage controllers in the cluster
- B. XMS must be able to access only the management ports on the first X-Brick's storage controllers
- C. XMS must be able to access all management ports on the X-Brick storage controllers
- D. XMS must be able to access one of the management ports on one X-Brick storage controller in the cluster
Correct Answer: C 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for ActualCollection members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
A storage administrator wants to re-use some of their XtremIO thin provisioned disks attached to a Microsoft Windows 2012 host.
However, the administrator notices that "Quick
Format" of the drives is taking a long time to complete. This has an impact on the overall performance.
What should be recommended to minimize the performance impact?
- A. Change the disk format to thick provisioned
- B. Adjust the execution throttle value on the Windows host
- C. Temporarily disable the UNMAP feature on the Windows host during formatting
- D. Disable the I/O elevator feature on the Windows host while formatting
Correct Answer: C 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for ActualCollection members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
Which actions are initiated when a snapshot is created on an XtremIO array?
- A. Parent object remains writeable and one auxiliary volume is created
- B. Parent object becomes read only and one auxiliary volume is created
- C. Parent object becomes read only and two auxiliary volumes are created
- D. Parent object remains writeable and two auxiliary volumes are created
Correct Answer: C 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for ActualCollection members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
Refer to the Exhibit.
A customer has the following XtremIO environment:
If an application generates 100,000 IOPS of traffic, how many RPAs are needed to replicate the traffic from one XtremIO array to another XtremIO array over IP?
- A. 3
- B. 1
- C. 4
- D. 2
Correct Answer: A 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for ActualCollection members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).






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