KCNA Kubernetes Fundamentals Practice Question
Which two of the following are valid ways to set resource constraints on a container in a Pod spec?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse the naming convention of Kubernetes resource fields (e.g., 'limits' vs 'max', 'requests' vs 'min' or 'guarantees'), leading them to choose plausible-sounding but non-existent keys like 'resources.max.cpu' or 'resources.guarantees.cpu'.
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
✓
Specify 'resources.limits.memory' for maximum memory
'resources.limits.memory' is the valid Kubernetes field to set the maximum amount of memory a container can use. When a container exceeds this limit, it may be terminated or OOM-killed by the kubelet. This is a core concept in Kubernetes resource management for ensuring predictable application behavior.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Specify 'resources.guarantees.cpu' for CPU guarantees
Why it's wrong here
No such field; use 'requests'.
- ✓
Specify 'resources.limits.memory' for maximum memory
Why this is correct
Limits cap resource usage.
- ✗
Specify 'resources.min.memory' for minimum memory
Why it's wrong here
Use 'requests' for minimum.
- ✓
Specify 'resources.requests.cpu' for minimum CPU
Why this is correct
Requests are the minimum resources guaranteed.
- ✗
Specify 'resources.max.cpu' for CPU limits
Why it's wrong here
Use 'limits' not 'max'.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.