SVMs with FlexVol volumes provide file level data access through which type of protocol?

The correct answer is that SVMs (Storage Virtual Machines) with FlexVol volumes provide file-level data access through NAS protocols such as CIFS and NFS. This is due to the nature of how FlexVol volumes and SVMs are designed to work within NetApp's architecture.

FlexVol volumes allow for flexible storage allocation and management within a single SVM, which is primarily focused on file services. NAS (Network Attached Storage) protocols like CIFS (Common Internet File System) and NFS (Network File System) enable file-level operations, allowing users and applications to access and share files over a network seamlessly.

Unlike block-level protocols, which are used for direct access to storage devices, NAS protocols are tailored for accessing files over a network. CIFS is typically used in Windows environments, whereas NFS is common in UNIX/Linux environments. Both protocols facilitate the interaction with file systems in a convenient manner, making them the ideal choice for file-level data access in the context of SVMs with FlexVol volumes.

In contrast, the other options involve different types of data access methodologies that focus more on block-level operations or different storage technologies, which are not aligned with the file-level access needed in this context.