KCNA Kubernetes Fundamentals Practice Question
An administrator needs to run a stateful database in Kubernetes that requires a stable network identity, persistent storage that survives pod rescheduling, and ordered deployment and scaling. Which Kubernetes resource should be used to meet these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any workload controller can manage stateful applications, when only StatefulSet provides stable identities and persistent storage per pod.
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
✓
StatefulSet
StatefulSet is the only workload resource that provides stable network identities, persistent storage per replica, and ordered deployment and scaling. Deployments, DaemonSets, and ReplicaSets are designed for stateless or node-wide workloads and do not offer these guarantees. For a stateful database, StatefulSet is the correct and standard Kubernetes solution.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
StatefulSet
Why this is correct
StatefulSet is designed for stateful applications, providing stable, unique network identifiers (pod name and headless Service), persistent storage through volumeClaimTemplates, and ordered, graceful deployment and scaling. It satisfies the need for a stable identity and durable storage across rescheduling, making it the correct choice for a stateful database.
- ✗
ReplicaSet
Why it's wrong here
ReplicaSet maintains a stable number of identical pod replicas but lacks features like stable network identity, ordered scaling, and persistent storage per replica. Pods are not uniquely addressable, and their storage is not preserved across rescheduling. These limitations make ReplicaSet inappropriate for a stateful database requiring stable identity and durable storage.
- ✗
Deployment
Why it's wrong here
A Deployment manages stateless applications and provides no stable network identity or persistent storage per replica. Pods are interchangeable, and when rescheduled they may receive new names and lose local data unless an external mechanism is configured. The requirement for ordered deployment and stable identity is not met by a Deployment, making it unsuitable for a stateful database.
- ✗
DaemonSet
Why it's wrong here
DaemonSet ensures that a copy of a pod runs on every node (or a subset), typically for cluster-wide services like log collectors or node monitors. It does not provide stable per-pod network identities or persistent storage tied to individual replicas, and it does not support ordered scaling. Therefore, it cannot fulfill the requirements for a stateful database.
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Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CNCF exam blueprint
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