CKA Storage Practice Question
Which access mode allows multiple pods on different nodes to mount a PersistentVolume as read-write?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse ReadWriteOnce (RWO) with multi-pod access, assuming 'Once' means one pod at a time, but it actually means one node at a time, so multiple pods on the same node can share it, but not across nodes.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
ReadWriteMany (RWX)
ReadWriteMany (RWX) is the only access mode that allows multiple pods across different nodes to mount a PersistentVolume as read-write simultaneously. This is achieved through shared filesystem protocols such as NFS, GlusterFS, or CephFS, which support concurrent access from multiple clients. The RWX mode is essential for workloads like clustered databases or shared storage applications where multiple instances need to write to the same volume.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ReadWriteMany (RWX)
Why this is correct
ReadWriteMany (RWX) is the correct access mode because it explicitly allows a PersistentVolume to be mounted as read-write by multiple nodes simultaneously. This capability enables multiple pods, potentially distributed across different Kubernetes nodes, to concurrently access and modify the shared storage, directly fulfilling the question's requirement for "multiple pods on different nodes" needing read-write access. This mode is typically supported by network file systems like NFS or distributed storage solutions.
- ✗
ReadWriteOncePod (RWOP)
Why it's wrong here
ReadWriteOncePod (RWOP) is incorrect because, while it provides read-write access, it strictly limits the PersistentVolume to be mounted by only a single pod across the entire cluster. This means that even if multiple pods on different nodes attempted to mount it, only one would succeed, failing to meet the condition of "multiple pods on different nodes" accessing the volume concurrently. Its purpose is to ensure exclusive access for a specific pod instance, preventing any other pod from attaching.
- ✗
ReadWriteOnce (RWO)
Why it's wrong here
ReadWriteOnce fails because it permits a PersistentVolume to be mounted as read-write by only a single node at any given time. The question specifies "multiple pods on different nodes," which RWO explicitly forbids. It is tempting because it does provide read-write access. RWO is the correct choice when a single node requires exclusive read-write access, suitable for traditional applications or databases not designed for distributed access that cannot handle concurrent writes from multiple locations.
- ✗
ReadOnlyMany (ROX)
Why it's wrong here
ReadOnlyMany (ROX) is incorrect because, although it permits a PersistentVolume to be mounted by multiple nodes concurrently, allowing many pods across different nodes to access the data, all mounts are strictly read-only. The question specifically asks for an access mode that allows read-write access. Therefore, ROX fails to meet the crucial requirement for pods to modify the data on the volume, making it unsuitable for this scenario.
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