Which NetApp efficiency feature creates a group of data blocks before optimizing space?

The efficiency feature that creates a group of data blocks before optimizing space is RAID DP (Redundant Array of Independent Disks Data Protection). RAID DP is a data protection technology that utilizes a double parity scheme to safeguard against disk failures. In the context of optimization, RAID DP organizes data blocks into a redundant structure, thereby allowing for more intelligent management of data storage and retrieval.

RAID DP approaches redundancy by grouping multiple data blocks and calculating parity information, which allows for the recovery of lost data should a disk fail. This means that, before any optimization or efficiency process takes place, data is structured in such a way that it can be efficiently managed and protected, which ultimately helps to utilize storage resources more effectively over time.

On the other hand, the other options—deduplication, compression, and thin provisioning—while also related to efficiency, do not create a group of data blocks for optimization prior to their respective processes. Deduplication identifies and removes duplicate copies of data, compression reduces the size of data blocks by encoding them more efficiently, and thin provisioning allocates storage on-demand rather than upfront. Each of these features focuses on optimizing space in different manners, but none is specifically about grouping data blocks before the optimization process like RAID DP.