This CKA practice question tests your understanding of workloads and scheduling. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A DaemonSet is expected to run on all nodes, but a particular node does not have the pod. The node is Ready and has no taints. You run 'kubectl describe daemonset <name>' and see 'MISSING' for that node. What is a likely cause?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The DaemonSet has a nodeSelector that the node does not match
When a DaemonSet shows 'MISSING' for a specific node that is Ready and has no taints, the most common cause is that the node does not match the DaemonSet's nodeSelector. The nodeSelector field in the DaemonSet spec defines a set of key-value pairs that must match the node's labels. If the node lacks the required labels, the DaemonSet controller will not schedule the pod on that node, resulting in the 'MISSING' status.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The DaemonSet is configured to run only on control plane nodes
Why it's wrong here
If that were the case, worker nodes would be missing, but the question says 'a particular node'.
✓
The DaemonSet has a nodeSelector that the node does not match
Why this is correct
Correct. nodeSelector filter causes the DaemonSet to skip nodes that don't match labels.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The node has insufficient resources for the DaemonSet pod
Why it's wrong here
If insufficient resources, the pod would be in Pending state, not missing.
✗
The node has a taint that is not tolerated
Why it's wrong here
The node has no taints, so this is not applicable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume 'MISSING' implies a resource or taint issue, but the CKA exam tests the understanding that nodeSelector mismatches cause the DaemonSet controller to skip the node entirely, not just fail to schedule.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The DaemonSet controller uses a scheduler-independent mechanism: it directly creates pods on nodes that match its scheduling constraints (nodeSelector, node affinity, tolerations). The 'MISSING' status in 'kubectl describe daemonset' indicates that the controller has determined the node is not eligible for scheduling, often due to label mismatches. Under the hood, the controller checks node labels against the DaemonSet's nodeSelector at each reconciliation loop; if the node's labels change after initial scheduling, the pod will be evicted and the node will show 'MISSING'.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CKA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKA question in full detail.
Workloads and Scheduling — This question tests Workloads and Scheduling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The DaemonSet has a nodeSelector that the node does not match — When a DaemonSet shows 'MISSING' for a specific node that is Ready and has no taints, the most common cause is that the node does not match the DaemonSet's nodeSelector. The nodeSelector field in the DaemonSet spec defines a set of key-value pairs that must match the node's labels. If the node lacks the required labels, the DaemonSet controller will not schedule the pod on that node, resulting in the 'MISSING' status.
What should I do if I get this CKA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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