- A
The pod is not using a ServiceAccount
Why wrong: Missing ServiceAccount would not cause Pending with a taint message.
- B
The node has a disk pressure condition and the pod lacks a toleration
The taint 'node.kubernetes.io/disk-pressure' indicates disk pressure on the node. Pods without a toleration for this taint cannot be scheduled.
- C
The pod's resource requests exceed the node's capacity
Why wrong: That would show 'Insufficient CPU/memory' not taint.
- D
The pod's container image does not exist
Why wrong: Image pull errors would show 'ImagePullBackOff' or 'ErrImagePull'.
Question 419 of 997
Resolve Pod Pending State from Disk Pressure Taint
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. 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 remains in 'Pending' state. Upon inspecting the pod with 'kubectl describe pod', you see the message '0/1 nodes are available: 1 node(s) had taint {node.kubernetes.io/disk-pressure: }, that the pod didn't tolerate'. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 node has a disk pressure condition and the pod lacks a toleration
The message '0/1 nodes are available: 1 node(s) had taint {node.kubernetes.io/disk-pressure: }, that the pod didn't tolerate' indicates the node has a taint of 'disk-pressure' which prevents pod scheduling unless the pod has a matching toleration. Since the pod lacks this toleration, it remains in 'Pending' state. Option B correctly identifies the node's disk pressure condition and the missing toleration as the cause.
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 is not using a ServiceAccount
Why it's wrong here
Missing ServiceAccount would not cause Pending with a taint message.
- ✓
The node has a disk pressure condition and the pod lacks a toleration
Why this is correct
The taint 'node.kubernetes.io/disk-pressure' indicates disk pressure on the node. Pods without a toleration for this taint cannot be scheduled.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The pod's resource requests exceed the node's capacity
Why it's wrong here
That would show 'Insufficient CPU/memory' not taint.
- ✗
The pod's container image does not exist
Why it's wrong here
Image pull errors would show 'ImagePullBackOff' or 'ErrImagePull'.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
In the KCNA exam, it's important to distinguish between taint/toleration errors and resource insufficiency errors. Candidates often mistakenly choose 'resource requests exceed capacity' when the message explicitly mentions a taint, not resource limits.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
That would show 'Insufficient CPU/memory' not taint.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Taints and tolerations work as a scheduling constraint: taints are applied to nodes to repel pods without matching tolerations, and the 'node.kubernetes.io/disk-pressure' taint is automatically added by the kubelet when the node's disk usage exceeds a threshold (typically 85% by default). The pod remains 'Pending' because the scheduler cannot find a node that meets all scheduling predicates, and the taint is evaluated before other constraints like resource requests. In real-world scenarios, this often occurs when a node's disk fills up due to log rotation failures or container image caching, and the solution is to either add a toleration to the pod or resolve the disk pressure on the node.
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 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. 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.
- →
Kubernetes Fundamentals — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
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Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this KCNA question test?
Kubernetes Fundamentals — This question tests Kubernetes Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The node has a disk pressure condition and the pod lacks a toleration — The message '0/1 nodes are available: 1 node(s) had taint {node.kubernetes.io/disk-pressure: }, that the pod didn't tolerate' indicates the node has a taint of 'disk-pressure' which prevents pod scheduling unless the pod has a matching toleration. Since the pod lacks this toleration, it remains in 'Pending' state. Option B correctly identifies the node's disk pressure condition and the missing toleration as the cause.
What should I do if I get this KCNA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 →
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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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