220-1201 Practice Question: A server in a data center has redundant power…

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✓

  Replace the PSU with the amber LED immediately

  Why this is correct

  A server with redundant power supplies (PSUs) is designed to operate even if one PSU fails. An amber LED typically indicates a fault or failure in that specific power supply unit, meaning the server is now running in a degraded state without its intended redundancy. Immediate replacement is crucial to restore the server's power redundancy, ensuring that a subsequent failure of the remaining operational PSU does not lead to unexpected system downtime or data corruption. This proactive maintenance maintains high availability and system resilience.

• ✗

  Do nothing because the server is still running

  Why it's wrong here

  While the server may continue to operate on its remaining functional power supply, ignoring the amber LED is a critical mistake that compromises system reliability. The server is now running in a degraded state, having lost its power redundancy. If the single operational PSU were to fail, the entire server would immediately shut down, leading to significant service interruption, potential data loss, and a breach of service level agreements. This approach directly contradicts the purpose of having redundant components.

• ✗

  Swap the two PSUs to see if the amber LED follows

  Why it's wrong here

  Swapping the PSUs is an inefficient and potentially risky troubleshooting step in this scenario. The amber LED is a diagnostic indicator specifically tied to the health status of the individual power supply unit itself, not the bay or slot it occupies within the server chassis. Moving a faulty PSU to another slot would simply cause the amber LED to illuminate on the faulty unit in its new position, confirming the original diagnosis without resolving the underlying hardware issue. This action wastes valuable time and does not address the component failure.

• ✗

  Reset the PSU by unplugging and replugging it

  Why it's wrong here

  While reseating a component can sometimes resolve intermittent connectivity issues or clear a transient error, a persistent amber LED on a PSU typically signifies a more serious internal hardware failure, such as a failing fan, capacitor, or voltage regulator. Unplugging and replugging the unit might temporarily clear the error log or reset the sensor, but the underlying fault will almost certainly recur, or the unit will fail completely soon after. This action delays the necessary replacement and leaves the server vulnerable to a complete power failure.