This CKA practice question tests your understanding of workloads & 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.
Which THREE of the following are characteristics of DaemonSets?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A DaemonSet runs exactly one pod per node
A DaemonSet ensures that exactly one pod runs on each node in the cluster (or a subset of nodes if node selectors are used). When a new node is added, the DaemonSet automatically schedules a pod on it; when a node is removed, the pod is garbage collected. This is enforced by the DaemonSet controller, which does not use a replica count like a Deployment or StatefulSet.
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.
✓
A DaemonSet runs exactly one pod per node
Why this is correct
DaemonSet ensures one pod per node.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
DaemonSets support rolling updates
Why this is correct
DaemonSets have update strategies like RollingUpdate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
DaemonSets can be scaled down by reducing the number of replicas
Why it's wrong here
DaemonSets do not have a replicas field; they run on all nodes matching the selector.
✓
DaemonSets can be scheduled on specific nodes using nodeSelector
Why this is correct
DaemonSet respects nodeSelector in its pod template.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A DaemonSet can be used to run a batch job that completes
Why it's wrong here
DaemonSet pods run continuously; Jobs are for batch tasks.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that DaemonSets can be scaled by adjusting a replica count, similar to Deployments, but the correct behavior is that DaemonSets are node-driven, not replica-driven.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the DaemonSet controller watches the Kubernetes API for node additions and removals, then creates or deletes pods accordingly. It uses the same pod template as a Deployment but bypasses the ReplicaSet layer entirely. A real-world scenario: deploying a network plugin like Calico or a log shipper like Fluentd on every node, where you need exactly one instance per node regardless of cluster size.
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 & Scheduling — This question tests Workloads & Scheduling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A DaemonSet runs exactly one pod per node — A DaemonSet ensures that exactly one pod runs on each node in the cluster (or a subset of nodes if node selectors are used). When a new node is added, the DaemonSet automatically schedules a pod on it; when a node is removed, the pod is garbage collected. This is enforced by the DaemonSet controller, which does not use a replica count like a Deployment or StatefulSet.
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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