220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a server that…

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 SSDs are experiencing write amplification.

  Why it's wrong here

  Write amplification is an internal process within an SSD where the actual amount of data written to flash memory is a multiple of the data the host system intends to write. While excessive write amplification can degrade SSD performance and shorten its lifespan, it is a background operation managed by the SSD's controller and does not directly cause "Lost communication" errors or system freezes. These symptoms point to a failure in the communication path or control logic, not an internal wear leveling characteristic.

• ✓

  The RAID controller firmware is corrupted.

  Why this is correct

  Corrupted firmware on a RAID controller can severely disrupt its ability to manage the attached drives and communicate with the server's operating system. Firmware acts as the controller's operating system, dictating how it handles I/O requests, manages the RAID array, and reports status. If this critical code becomes damaged, it can lead to intermittent "Lost communication" errors, data access failures, and complete system freezes, even if the physical drives themselves are fully functional.

• ✗

  The SSDs need to be defragmented.

  Why it's wrong here

  Defragmentation is a process designed for traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) to consolidate fragmented files, improving read/write speeds by reducing head movement. Solid-state drives (SSDs) do not have moving parts, so file fragmentation does not impact their performance in the same way. Furthermore, repeatedly writing and rewriting data during defragmentation cycles can contribute to unnecessary wear on the SSD's flash memory cells, potentially shortening its lifespan, and would certainly not cause "Lost communication" errors or system freezes.

• ✗

  The server's power supply is failing.

  Why it's wrong here

  A failing power supply unit (PSU) typically manifests as widespread, inconsistent issues affecting multiple components or the entire system. Symptoms might include unexpected shutdowns, reboots, or failures across various peripherals, not just isolated "Lost communication" errors specifically with the RAID array. While a PSU could theoretically cause issues if it's failing to deliver stable power *only* to the RAID controller, the more common and indicative symptoms of a failing PSU are broader system instability or complete power loss.

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