- A
maxSurge: 3, maxUnavailable: 2
Why wrong: maxSurge=3 allows up to 13 pods, exceeding the requirement of at most 2 extra pods.
- B
maxSurge: 3, maxUnavailable: 3
Why wrong: This would allow up to 13 pods (desired 10 + 3) and minimum available 7 (10-3), not meeting the requirement of 8 minimum available.
- C
maxSurge: 2, maxUnavailable: 2
maxSurge=2 allows at most 12 pods (10+2). maxUnavailable=2 ensures at least 8 pods are available (10-2).
- D
maxSurge: '20%', maxUnavailable: '20%'
Why wrong: Percentages are calculated from desired replicas (10), resulting in 2 each. This matches the requirement, but the question expects absolute integers. However, percentage values are also valid; but given the exact requirement, integers are clearer. Option B is still correct.
CKA Workloads and Scheduling Practice Question
This CKA practice question tests your understanding of workloads and scheduling. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
You need to update a Deployment's image from nginx:1.20 to nginx:1.21 using a rolling update strategy, but you want to ensure that during the update, at most 2 pods above the desired replicas (10) are running, and at least 8 pods are available at all times. Which strategy configuration should you apply?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
maxSurge: 2, maxUnavailable: 2
Option C is correct because it sets maxSurge=2 and maxUnavailable=2, which ensures that during the rolling update, at most 2 extra pods can be created above the desired 10 (so maximum 12 pods running), and at least 8 pods (desired 10 minus maxUnavailable 2) are always available. This satisfies the requirement of at most 2 pods above desired replicas and at least 8 available at all times.
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.
- ✗
maxSurge: 3, maxUnavailable: 2
Why it's wrong here
maxSurge=3 allows up to 13 pods, exceeding the requirement of at most 2 extra pods.
- ✗
maxSurge: 3, maxUnavailable: 3
Why it's wrong here
This would allow up to 13 pods (desired 10 + 3) and minimum available 7 (10-3), not meeting the requirement of 8 minimum available.
- ✓
maxSurge: 2, maxUnavailable: 2
Why this is correct
maxSurge=2 allows at most 12 pods (10+2). maxUnavailable=2 ensures at least 8 pods are available (10-2).
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
maxSurge: '20%', maxUnavailable: '20%'
Why it's wrong here
Percentages are calculated from desired replicas (10), resulting in 2 each. This matches the requirement, but the question expects absolute integers. However, percentage values are also valid; but given the exact requirement, integers are clearer. Option B is still correct.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse maxSurge and maxUnavailable with the total number of pods allowed to be unavailable or created, leading them to pick options that either allow too many extra pods (A, B) or too few available pods (B), or they incorrectly assume percentage-based values (D) are always safer without checking the exact integer equivalent.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Kubernetes, the rolling update strategy uses maxSurge and maxUnavailable to control the update pace. maxSurge defines the maximum number of pods that can be created above the desired replica count, while maxUnavailable defines the maximum number of pods that can be unavailable during the update. These values can be specified as absolute integers or percentages; when using percentages, they are rounded up to the nearest integer. Under the hood, the Deployment controller uses a ReplicaSet to manage the new pods and gradually scales down the old ReplicaSet while scaling up the new one, ensuring the total number of pods never exceeds desired + maxSurge and the available pods never fall below desired - maxUnavailable.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Workloads and Scheduling — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Workloads and Scheduling practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKA question test?
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: maxSurge: 2, maxUnavailable: 2 — Option C is correct because it sets maxSurge=2 and maxUnavailable=2, which ensures that during the rolling update, at most 2 extra pods can be created above the desired 10 (so maximum 12 pods running), and at least 8 pods (desired 10 minus maxUnavailable 2) are always available. This satisfies the requirement of at most 2 pods above desired replicas and at least 8 available at all times.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CKA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CKA exam.
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