Which pair of components is a major part of data storage VMs?

The correct answer emphasizes the fundamental roles that volumes and data LIFs play in data storage virtual machines (VMs).

Volumes in a storage system are logical containers for data, allowing for the organization and management of data within a physical storage infrastructure. They help facilitate data access and are the building blocks for managing and storing data efficiently. Data LIFs (Logical Interfaces) are essential for the communication between the storage system and hosts, enabling data traffic to flow to and from the storage.

This pairing illustrates how data storage VMs operate within a networked storage architecture. Volumes hold the actual data, while data LIFs are instrumental in accessing that data, making them critical components in the data storage landscape. Together, they represent the data management and access layers essential for efficiently handling storage resources in virtualized environments.

Other options such as aggregates and snapshots serve important roles but do not directly encompass the interactions necessary for the primary functions of data storage VMs. An aggregate is a collection of disks that provide the raw storage space, while snapshots are point-in-time copies of volumes, and FlexGroups are advanced configurations for managing multiple volumes, but they do not directly tie in with the fundamental aspects of data access in the same way.