- A
The pod will continue running normally because it has no limit
Why wrong: The pod will continue running normally because it has no limit. This is incorrect because even without a limit, the kernel can still kill the container under memory pressure.
- B
The pod will be evicted and rescheduled on a different node
Why wrong: The pod will be evicted and rescheduled on a different node. This is incorrect because eviction is typically performed by the kubelet for pods that exceed their requests, not for OOM kills.
- C
The pod will be terminated with a 'CrashLoopBackOff' status
Why wrong: The pod will be terminated with a 'CrashLoopBackOff' status. This is incorrect because CrashLoopBackOff indicates a container that repeatedly crashes after starting, not OOM termination.
- D
The pod will be terminated with a 'OOMKilled' status
The pod will be terminated with a 'OOMKilled' status. This is correct because the kernel OOM killer terminates the container when memory is low, even if no limit is set.
Pod OOMKilled — Out-of-Memory Termination Without Limits
This KCNA practice question tests your understanding of kubernetes fundamentals. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: oOM Killer. 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 have a pod that is scheduled on a node with insufficient memory. The pod's manifest does not have a memory limit, but the node is under memory pressure. What is likely to happen to the 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
The pod will be terminated with a 'OOMKilled' status
When a pod has no memory limit, its container can use memory up to the node's capacity. If the node experiences memory pressure, the kernel's Out-Of-Memory (OOM) killer may terminate the container to free memory, resulting in an 'OOMKilled' status. This is different from kubelet eviction, which typically affects pods with resource limits when they exceed their requests.
Key principle: OOM Killer
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 will continue running normally because it has no limit
Why it's wrong here
The pod will continue running normally because it has no limit. This is incorrect because even without a limit, the kernel can still kill the container under memory pressure.
- ✗
The pod will be evicted and rescheduled on a different node
Why it's wrong here
The pod will be evicted and rescheduled on a different node. This is incorrect because eviction is typically performed by the kubelet for pods that exceed their requests, not for OOM kills.
- ✗
The pod will be terminated with a 'CrashLoopBackOff' status
Why it's wrong here
The pod will be terminated with a 'CrashLoopBackOff' status. This is incorrect because CrashLoopBackOff indicates a container that repeatedly crashes after starting, not OOM termination.
- ✓
The pod will be terminated with a 'OOMKilled' status
Why this is correct
The pod will be terminated with a 'OOMKilled' status. This is correct because the kernel OOM killer terminates the container when memory is low, even if no limit is set.
Related concept
OOM Killer
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates may think that OOMKilled only occurs when a container exceeds its memory limit, but it can also happen due to node-level memory pressure, even without a limit.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The kubelet uses eviction signals like `memory.available` (derived from cgroups) to enforce eviction thresholds. When the node's memory usage exceeds the `--eviction-hard` threshold (default: `memory.available<100Mi`), the kubelet ranks pods by QoS class and priority, terminating BestEffort pods first. Even without a limit, a pod is classified as BestEffort, making it a prime target for eviction under memory pressure. The OOM killer then assigns an OOM score to the pod's processes, killing them and resulting in the 'OOMKilled' exit code (137).
KKey Concepts to Remember
- OOM Killer
- Node Memory Pressure
- Pod Status
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
OOM Killer
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the KCNA 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. OOM Killer 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.
Review oOM Killer, then practise related KCNA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Kubernetes Fundamentals — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this KCNA question test?
Kubernetes Fundamentals — This question tests Kubernetes Fundamentals — OOM Killer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The pod will be terminated with a 'OOMKilled' status — When a pod has no memory limit, its container can use memory up to the node's capacity. If the node experiences memory pressure, the kernel's Out-Of-Memory (OOM) killer may terminate the container to free memory, resulting in an 'OOMKilled' status. This is different from kubelet eviction, which typically affects pods with resource limits when they exceed their requests.
What should I do if I get this KCNA question wrong?
Review oOM Killer, then practise related KCNA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OOM Killer
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This KCNA 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 KCNA exam.
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