A primary benefit of implementing NetApp StorageGRID in a high-availability (HA) configuration is the use of virtual IP addresses (VIPs). HA groups for Admin Nodes and Gateway Nodes utilize a shared VIP. This VIP is assigned to a master node within the group. If that master node fails, the VIP automatically fails over to another node in the group, which then becomes the new master. This process is transparent to clients and administrators, who continue to access the service through the same stable IP address, thus ensuring service continuity and minimizing downtime.

B. zero data loss in case of a catastrophic failure: This confuses high availability with disaster recovery. While StorageGRID's ILM policies provide excellent data durability, HA's main goal is service uptime, not guaranteeing a zero Recovery Point Objective (RPO) in all catastrophic scenarios.

C. the ability to focus on optimizing data retrieval speed: The primary goal of a high-availability configuration is to ensure service continuity and resilience against component failure, not to optimize performance, which is a separate design consideration.

D. a single instance of the system for redundancy: This is a contradiction. Redundancy, the core principle of high availability, inherently requires multiple instances of a component or system to eliminate single points of failure.

1. NetApp StorageGRID 11.7 Documentation, "Administer StorageGRID": In the section "Manage high availability (HA) groups," it states, "An HA group of Admin Nodes or Gateway Nodes provides high availability for those functions by using a shared virtual IP (VIP) address... If the master node fails, the VIP address is automatically reassigned to another node in the group, which becomes the new master."

2. NetApp Technical Report TR-4589, "StorageGRID Architecture and Implementation Guide": Section 3.2, "High Availability," describes the HA mechanism for Admin and Gateway nodes, stating, "High availability for these nodes is provided by using HA groups and virtual IP addresses (VIPs). The VIP provides a single logical endpoint for administrators and clients."

3. NetApp StorageGRID 11.7 Documentation, "Concepts": The "High availability" section within the "Grid primer" explains that HA is achieved through redundant components and that "HA groups provide redundant access to Admin Node and Gateway Node functionality using virtual IP addresses."