- A
The pod's image pull policy is set to Always and the registry is unreachable
Why wrong: Image pull issues would manifest as ErrImagePull or ImagePullBackOff, not Insufficient cpu.
- B
The pod's CPU request exceeds the available CPU capacity on all nodes
No node has enough allocatable CPU to satisfy the pod's request.
- C
The cluster has a taint that the pod does not tolerate
Why wrong: That would produce a different event message about taints/tolerations.
- D
The scheduler is misconfigured and not running
Why wrong: If the scheduler is not running, no scheduling events would appear; the pod would remain Pending without events.
Question 572 of 997
Fixing a Pod Stuck in Pending Due to Insufficient CPU
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of monitoring, logging and runtime 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.
A pod is stuck in Pending state. You run 'kubectl describe pod' and see the event: '0/3 nodes are available: 3 Insufficient cpu'. What is the likely cause?
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
✓
The pod's CPU request exceeds the available CPU capacity on all nodes
The event '0/3 nodes are available: 3 Insufficient cpu' directly indicates that the scheduler attempted to place the pod on each of the three nodes but found that none had enough allocatable CPU to satisfy the pod's CPU request. This means the sum of CPU requests across all pods on each node, plus the new pod's request, exceeds the node's capacity. The pod remains in Pending state because no node can accommodate its resource requirements.
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 pod's image pull policy is set to Always and the registry is unreachable
Why it's wrong here
Image pull issues would manifest as ErrImagePull or ImagePullBackOff, not Insufficient cpu.
- ✓
The pod's CPU request exceeds the available CPU capacity on all nodes
Why this is correct
No node has enough allocatable CPU to satisfy the pod's request.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The cluster has a taint that the pod does not tolerate
Why it's wrong here
That would produce a different event message about taints/tolerations.
- ✗
The scheduler is misconfigured and not running
Why it's wrong here
If the scheduler is not running, no scheduling events would appear; the pod would remain Pending without events.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
In the CKS exam, you must carefully read the event message to distinguish between resource insufficiency (Insufficient cpu) and other scheduling issues like taints/tolerations or node selectors.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The scheduler uses a predicate called 'NodeResourcesFit' to check if a node has enough free resources (CPU, memory, etc.) to satisfy the pod's requests. CPU is a compressible resource, but if the sum of requests exceeds capacity, the node is marked as unfit. In real-world scenarios, this often happens when pods are deployed without setting resource requests, defaulting to zero, or when a cluster is overcommitted and a new pod with a high CPU request cannot fit anywhere.
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 CKS 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.
- →
Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CKS questions
997 questions across all exam domains
- →
Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist CKS study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
CKS practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related CKS practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Monitoring Logging and Runtime Security practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to Monitoring Logging and Runtime Security.
Cluster Setup and Hardening practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to Cluster Setup and Hardening.
System Hardening practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to System Hardening.
Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities.
Supply Chain Security practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to Supply Chain Security.
Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security.
Cluster Setup practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to Cluster Setup.
Cluster Hardening practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to Cluster Hardening.
CKS fundamentals practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to CKS fundamentals.
CKS scenario practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to CKS scenario.
CKS troubleshooting practice questions
Practise CKS questions linked to CKS troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free CKS practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKS question test?
Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security — This question tests Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The pod's CPU request exceeds the available CPU capacity on all nodes — The event '0/3 nodes are available: 3 Insufficient cpu' directly indicates that the scheduler attempted to place the pod on each of the three nodes but found that none had enough allocatable CPU to satisfy the pod's CPU request. This means the sum of CPU requests across all pods on each node, plus the new pod's request, exceeds the node's capacity. The pod remains in Pending state because no node can accommodate its resource requirements.
What should I do if I get this CKS 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.
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 →
Keep practising
More CKS practice questions
- Which flag is used to restrict the kubelet's ability to modify node status and pods?
- A Falco rule has priority `WARNING` and output: `Sensitive file opened (user=%user.name command=%proc.cmdline file=%fd.n…
- Falco detects a shell being opened inside a container. Which Falco rule field is used to specify the syscall condition f…
- A security audit reveals that a ServiceAccount named 'monitor' has a ClusterRoleBinding to the cluster-admin role. What…
- Match each Kubernetes security component to its description.
- Match each Kubernetes certificate type to its usage.
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CKS 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 CKS exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.