KCNA Kubernetes Fundamentals Practice Question
A user creates a Pod with a PersistentVolumeClaim (PVC) that requests 5Gi of storage. The cluster has two PersistentVolumes (PVs): PV1 (3Gi, AccessModes: ReadWriteOnce) and PV2 (10Gi, AccessModes: ReadOnlyMany). The PVC specifies storageClassName: "" and AccessModes: ReadWriteOnce. Which PV will bind to the PVC?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume capacity is the only criterion or that a larger PV can compensate for mismatched access modes, but Kubernetes requires all three conditions (capacity, access modes, and storage class) to match exactly for a static PV to bind.
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
✓
Neither PV will bind; the PVC will remain pending.
The PVC specifies storageClassName: "", which means it requires a PV with the same empty storage class (i.e., a statically provisioned PV without a StorageClass). PV1 has 3Gi capacity, which is less than the requested 5Gi, so it fails capacity matching. PV2 has ReadOnlyMany access mode, which does not match the PVC's ReadWriteOnce. Since neither PV satisfies all binding criteria (capacity, access modes, and storage class), the PVC remains Pending.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
PV2 will bind because it has sufficient capacity.
Why it's wrong here
PV2 fails because its ReadOnlyMany access mode does not satisfy the PVC's ReadWriteOnce request; binding requires both capacity and a matching access mode. It is tempting since PV2's 10Gi exceeds the 5Gi claim, and capacity alone would suffice if the PVC had requested ReadOnlyMany and PV1 were absent.
- ✓
Neither PV will bind; the PVC will remain pending.
Why this is correct
Binding requires matching capacity and access modes. PV1 is too small for the 5Gi request, while PV2 offers only ReadOnlyMany, not the requested ReadWriteOnce. With no storage class, no other PV satisfies both constraints, so the PVC stays Pending.
- ✗
PV1 will bind because it has matching AccessModes.
Why it's wrong here
PV1's 3Gi capacity is below the PVC's 5Gi request, so binding fails regardless of matching ReadWriteOnce access mode. Capacity and access mode must both satisfy the claim; PV1 would bind only a claim requesting 3Gi or less.
- ✗
Both PVs will bind to satisfy the request.
Why it's wrong here
A PVC binds to exactly one PV, so two volumes cannot satisfy a single claim. This option tempts because Kubernetes does aggregate capacity across nodes for scheduling, yet PersistentVolume binding is strictly one-to-one. It would apply when a StorageClass provisions a new volume dynamically rather than matching existing static PVs.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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