Minerva is the internal service name for Nutanix Files. This service runs on the Controller VMs (CVMs) and is the core component responsible for managing the entire Nutanix Files cluster lifecycle, including deployment, configuration, and ongoing operations. When File server services are reported as down, the Minerva service is the primary component that an administrator must investigate on the CVMs to diagnose the root cause of the outage. Its status directly reflects the health of the Nutanix Files control plane.

B. Sysstatsserver: This service is responsible for collecting and processing system statistics for performance monitoring and reporting, not for core file-serving operations.

C. Cassandra: Cassandra is a distributed metadata database for the overall Nutanix cluster. While critical, it is not the specific service that directly manages the Nutanix Files functionality.

D. Insightscollector: This service gathers data for the Nutanix Insights platform for proactive monitoring and support. Its failure does not impact the core functionality of the File server.

1. Nutanix University

Nutanix Unified Storage Administration (NUSA) v6.5

Student Guide: Module 2: Nutanix Files Architecture

in the "Control Plane" section

states

"The control plane for Nutanix Files is the Minerva service

which runs on every CVM in the Nutanix cluster... The Minerva service is responsible for managing the file server."

2. Nutanix Files v4.4 Administration Guide: In the "Nutanix Files Architecture" section

the document details the role of the CVMs in managing the file server. It explains that the "Minerva service" running on the CVMs orchestrates all file server operations.

3. Nutanix Support Portal

KB-7840: This knowledge base article

which details the NCC health check fileservercvmservicescheck

explicitly mentions checking the status of the "Minerva leader" and other Minerva services to ensure the health of the Nutanix Files cluster.