SK0-005 troubleshooting — Timed 30 Questions

Question 1

A RAID 5 array is degraded due to a failed disk. What is the best practice for recovery?

Accepted Answer

Replace the failed disk and allow the array to rebuild automatically. Option C is correct because replacing the failed disk and allowing automatic rebuild utilizes the array's redundancy and minimizes downtime. Option A destroys the existing configuration. Option B and D are unnecessary if the array can rebuild.

Answer

Replace the failed disk and restore from backup

Answer

Replace the failed disk and perform a manual rebuild from backup

Answer

Delete the logical drive and recreate the array

Question 2

A technician is troubleshooting a server that fails to boot. The server displays a 'Boot Device Not Found' error. The technician verifies that the hard drives are spinning and appear in the RAID controller's BIOS. What should the technician check next?

Accepted Answer

Boot order in BIOS. Option B is correct because boot order is a common cause of 'Boot Device Not Found' when drives are detected. Option A is wrong because if drives are spinning and detected, cables are likely fine. Option C is wrong because missing OS files typically produce a different error. Option D is wrong because the array status is already verified as healthy.

Answer

Operating system files

Answer

SATA cable connections

Answer

RAID array status

Question 3

A server administrator is troubleshooting a performance issue on a VMware vSphere host. The host has multiple VMs, and one VM is experiencing high latency on its virtual disk. The administrator checks the datastore and sees it is a RAID 5 array of 4 SAS drives with 50% utilization. Latency for the VM's virtual disk is reported as 200ms. Which action would most likely improve performance?

Accepted Answer

Migrate the VM to a different datastore with SSD storage.. High latency on a heavily utilized RAID 5 array of spinning disks suggests an I/O bottleneck. Migrating to SSD storage would significantly reduce latency. Option A addresses memory, not disk; B might help with allocation but not latency; C might increase capacity but not improve latency (RAID 6 has more overhead).

Answer

Add a second disk to the RAID 5 array (convert to RAID 6).

Answer

Increase the VM's memory allocation.

Answer

Change the virtual disk type from thin to thick.

Question 4

A technician is troubleshooting a server that fails to boot after a scheduled power outage. The server is connected to a UPS. Upon pressing the power button, the server powers on briefly (fans spin, lights flash) and then shuts down after 2 seconds. The POST does not complete. The server has a dual power supply with each connected to a separate PDU. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

A short circuit in the motherboard. Option C is correct because immediate power-off after a brief spin-up is a classic symptom of a short circuit, often on the motherboard. Option A is wrong because a failed power supply would typically prevent any power-on or cause beep codes, not a brief power-on. Option B is wrong because the UPS battery condition would not cause this behavior if the server is receiving utility power; also the server is receiving power momentarily. Option D is wrong because a dead CMOS battery would cause date/time loss but not prevent boot completely.

Answer

The UPS battery is depleted

Answer

One of the power supplies has failed

Answer

The CMOS battery is dead

Question 5

A server is running out of disk space on the system drive (C:). The server is running Windows Server 2019. The IT manager wants to add more space without downtime. The server has one free SATA port and one available drive bay. Which of the following is the BEST solution?

Accepted Answer

Add a new drive, create a new partition, and mount it as a folder in the system drive. Option C is correct because mounting a new drive as a folder into the C: drive allows immediate space expansion without downtime or rebooting. Option A is wrong because it requires downtime for replacement and restore. Option B is wrong because configuring a mirror would require converting to dynamic disk and may require a reboot; also it duplicates data but does not add usable capacity. Option D is wrong because shrinking the system partition and extending to another disk is complex and often requires reboot or specialized software.

Answer

Shrink the existing partition and extend it onto an additional drive

Answer

Add a new drive, initialize it, and configure a RAID 1 mirror with the existing drive

Answer

Replace the current system drive with a larger one and restore from backup

Question 6

You are a server engineer for a financial services firm. The company recently deployed a new HP ProLiant DL380 Gen10 server running Windows Server 2022 with SQL Server 2019. The server has 2 Intel Xeon Gold processors, 128GB RAM, and a Smart Array P408i-p controller managing two RAID 1 arrays: one for OS (two 300GB 10K SAS) and one for data (four 600GB 10K SAS). After one month, the OS array reports a predictive failure on one drive. You replace the drive via hot-swap, and the RAID controller rebuilds. However, the server now experiences random system crashes with Event ID 1001 (BugCheck) and the SQL database occasionally becomes corrupt requiring restore from backup. The server's RAM has been tested with HP's diagnostic tool and passed, and the CPU temperature is normal. The RAID controller log shows no errors during the rebuild but occasional 'Parity errors' logged before the drive replacement. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the current instability?

Accepted Answer

The remaining original OS drive has bad sectors that were not detected.. Option C is correct because predictive failure on one drive may indicate that the entire mirrored pair has latent defects; the remaining original drive may have bad sectors that were not detected. The parity errors before replacement suggest data inconsistency, and after rebuild, the system relies on the remaining drive which can cause crashes and database corruption. Option A is wrong because the rebuild completed without errors, so the new drive is likely fine. Option B is wrong because a failed cache module would cause general errors, not specific parity issues. Option D is wrong because a faulty PCIe slot would cause intermittent disconnects of the controller, not these symptoms.

Answer

The new replacement drive is faulty.

Answer

The motherboard has a faulty PCIe slot for the RAID controller.

Answer

The RAID controller cache module has failed.

Question 7

A server administrator is troubleshooting a physical server that randomly crashes once or twice a week. The administrator has already verified that the power supply is functioning correctly and has checked the event logs for critical errors. According to standard troubleshooting methodology, what should the administrator do next?

Accepted Answer

Run memory diagnostics (e.g., MemTest86) to test RAM.. Option B is correct because random crashes often indicate a memory issue, and running memory diagnostics is a logical next step after verifying power and logs. Option A is premature because replacing the CPU is more invasive and less likely to resolve random crashes. Option C is a last resort after hardware issues are ruled out. Option D is irrelevant to random crashes.

Answer

Check network cables and switch connections.

Answer

Reinstall the operating system.

Answer

Replace the CPU with a known good one.

Question 8

A technician is troubleshooting a server that fails to boot after a power outage. The server displays a "Non-system disk or disk error" message. Which action should the technician take first?

Accepted Answer

Check the boot order in the BIOS configuration.. The error indicates that the server cannot find a bootable device. The most common cause after a power outage is a change in the BIOS boot order. Checking the boot order is a quick, non-invasive first step. Replacing the drive or reseating cables may be necessary if boot order is correct, but starting with boot order is best.

Answer

Run a filesystem check utility from a recovery disk.

Answer

Replace the hard drive with a known good one.

Answer

Reseat the hard drive data and power cables.

Question 9

A server administrator notices that a database server is responding slowly to queries. The CPU utilization is at 30%, memory at 40%, and disk latency is normal. Which of the following should the administrator check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Network bandwidth utilization. Network bandwidth utilization should be checked next because high network usage can cause slow responses even when CPU, memory, and disk are fine.

Answer

Power supply status

Answer

Database index fragmentation

Answer

Operating system patch level

Question 10

A server in a virtualized environment is experiencing VM performance degradation. The host server has adequate resources. The hypervisor logs show excessive 'ready' time for the CPU. Which of the following is the BEST action to resolve this issue?

Accepted Answer

Reduce the number of VMs on the host. Reducing the number of VMs on the host reduces contention for CPU resources, decreasing ready time.

Answer

Disable hyper-threading on the host

Answer

Increase the number of vCPUs for the VM

Answer

Migrate the VM to a different host

Question 11

A technician is troubleshooting a server that is experiencing high disk I/O wait times. The disk queue length is consistently above 10. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Insufficient RAM. Insufficient RAM can cause excessive paging to disk, leading to high disk I/O wait times and long queue lengths.

Answer

Disk fragmentation

Answer

Slow network link

Answer

Overloaded CPU

Question 12

Refer to the exhibit. A server is running slowly. Based on the memory statistics, what is the MOST likely issue?

Accepted Answer

Insufficient physical memory. With only 1 GB of available physical memory out of 16 GB, the server is heavily dependent on paging, leading to slow performance.

Answer

Memory leak in an application

Answer

Virtual memory is misconfigured

Answer

Page file is too small

Question 13

Refer to the exhibit. A technician is troubleshooting a server that is experiencing data corruption. What is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Faulty RAID controller. Event ID 11 with a controller error typically indicates a faulty RAID controller or HBA, not a disk failure or cable issue.

Answer

Corrupted file system

Answer

Loose data cable

Answer

Failed hard disk drive

Question 14

A server fails to boot after installing new memory. The POST beep code indicates a memory error. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The new memory is incompatible with the server. The POST memory error most commonly indicates an incompatible or improperly seated memory module. Incompatible memory (e.g., wrong type, speed, or rank) is a frequent issue when adding memory to servers. Option B is less common because most servers auto-detect slots. Option C is not required for basic memory compatibility. Option D would cause system instability, not a specific memory error.

Answer

The memory module is not seated properly

Answer

The BIOS is not updated to support the new memory

Answer

The memory is installed in the wrong slot

Question 15

A server with dual redundant power supplies shuts down unexpectedly. One power supply has a solid amber LED. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The power supply has failed. A solid amber LED on a redundant power supply typically indicates a power supply failure. Overheating would cause both to fail or trigger thermal shutdown. A power cord unplugged would show no LED. Server overload would not cause a single amber LED.

Answer

The server is drawing too much power

Answer

The power cord is unplugged

Answer

The server is overheating

Question 16

Refer to the exhibit. What is the most likely cause of this error?

Accepted Answer

The boot order is set incorrectly. The error 'Boot device not found' with 'Hard Disk: (3F0)' indicates the BIOS cannot find a bootable device. The most common cause is an incorrect boot order, where the system is trying to boot from a non-bootable device before the hard drive. A corrupt boot sector would give a different error (e.g., 'Missing operating system'). A loose cable could cause the drive not to be detected at all, but often the system would show no hard drive in BIOS. A failed drive would typically be detected but unbootable.

Answer

The hard drive data cable is loose

Answer

The boot sector is corrupted

Answer

The hard drive has failed

Question 17

A technician is troubleshooting a server that fails to boot. The server powers on, fans spin, but no video output and no beep codes. The technician reseats the RAM and GPU, but the issue persists. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Test or replace the CPU. Option C is correct because if the system powers on but no POST, a faulty CPU is a common cause when other components are reseated. Option A is wrong because power supply issues would typically cause no power or cycling. Option B is wrong because the CMOS battery is for clock/BIOS settings, not boot failure. Option D is wrong because BIOS corruption is less likely after reseating.

Answer

Replace the CMOS battery

Answer

Flash the BIOS firmware

Answer

Replace the power supply

Question 18

A server administrator is troubleshooting a network connectivity issue on a server that has recently been moved to a different rack. The server can ping its own IP address but cannot ping the default gateway. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Faulty Ethernet cable or incorrect patch panel port. Option A is correct because being able to ping self but not gateway suggests a layer 1 or 2 issue like a faulty patch cable. Option B is wrong because DNS would affect name resolution, not ping. Option C is wrong because incorrect subnet mask would affect self-ping or gateway detection. Option D is wrong because duplicate IP would cause intermittent issues or conflict messages.

Answer

Incorrect DNS server configuration

Answer

Incorrect subnet mask

Answer

Duplicate IP address on the network

Question 19

A data center technician is troubleshooting a server that is overheating and shutting down intermittently. The server is a 2U rackmount with six fans at the front and a power supply with an integrated fan at the rear. The technician checks the ambient temperature (72°F) and verifies that the server intake temperature is normal. The server's system logs show 'CPU temperature threshold exceeded' before each shutdown. The technician has replaced the thermal paste on the CPU and reseated the heat sink, but the issue persists. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Replace the chassis fans with high-static-pressure models. Option B is correct: the fans may be running but not at full speed due to a faulty fan controller or sensors. Option A is wrong because ambient temp is fine. Option C is wrong because CPU is already reseated. Option D is wrong because power supply is not indicated.

Answer

Move the server to a cooler location in the data center

Answer

Reinstall the CPU heat sink with more thermal paste

Answer

Replace the power supply unit

Question 20

A server fails to boot with an 'Operating System Not Found' error. The BIOS detects the hard drive. What is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Corrupted Master Boot Record. Option B is correct because a corrupted Master Boot Record (MBR) can prevent the system from locating the OS loader even when the drive is detected by BIOS. Option A (incorrect memory timings) would typically cause POST failures, not a missing OS message. Option C (failed CPU) would prevent POST entirely. Option D (overheating) would likely cause shutdowns before OS load.

Answer

Failed CPU

Answer

Incorrect memory timings

Answer

Overheating