This CKAD practice question tests your understanding of application environment, configuration and security. 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 valid fields in a Pod's container spec for resource management? (Choose three.)
resources.limits.ephemeral-storage
Correct: ephemeral-storage is a resource type.
resources.requests.cpu
Correct.
resources.limits.memory
Correct.
resources.requests.gpu
Why wrong: GPUs are requested via extended resources like nvidia.com/gpu, not directly as 'gpu'.
resources.requests.storage
Why wrong: Storage requests are defined in PersistentVolumeClaim, not in container resources.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
resources.limits.ephemeral-storage
Option A is correct because `ephemeral-storage` is a valid resource type in Kubernetes that can be specified under `resources.limits` to control the maximum temporary storage a container can use, preventing pods from exhausting node storage. This is defined in the Kubernetes resource model and is commonly used for scratch space or logs.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
resources.limits.ephemeral-storage
Why this is correct
Correct: ephemeral-storage is a resource type.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
resources.requests.cpu
Why this is correct
Correct.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
resources.limits.memory
Why this is correct
Correct.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
resources.requests.gpu
Why it's wrong here
GPUs are requested via extended resources like nvidia.com/gpu, not directly as 'gpu'.
resources.requests.storage
Why it's wrong here
Storage requests are defined in PersistentVolumeClaim, not in container resources.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `resources.requests.storage` with `PersistentVolumeClaim` storage requests, or assume `gpu` is a built-in resource like CPU or memory, when in fact Kubernetes only natively supports CPU and memory as core resources, with extended resources requiring explicit configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Kubernetes uses the `resources.limits` and `resources.requests` fields to enforce QoS classes (Guaranteed, Burstable, BestEffort) and to schedule pods based on node capacity. The `ephemeral-storage` resource is tracked by kubelet using the `nodefs` filesystem, and exceeding its limit can trigger pod eviction, which is critical in environments with limited local SSD or disk space for logs and temporary data.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CKAD 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
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FAQ
Application Environment, Configuration and Security — This question tests Application Environment, Configuration and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: resources.limits.ephemeral-storage — Option A is correct because `ephemeral-storage` is a valid resource type in Kubernetes that can be specified under `resources.limits` to control the maximum temporary storage a container can use, preventing pods from exhausting node storage. This is defined in the Kubernetes resource model and is commonly used for scratch space or logs.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This CKAD 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 CKAD exam.
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