- A
Network bandwidth saturation between the database and application servers.
Why wrong: Network saturation would show as network latency or packet loss, not as high I/O wait on the database server.
- B
Insufficient memory on the database server causing paging.
Why wrong: Insufficient memory would cause paging and high memory pressure, but the hypervisor shows no memory pressure, so this is unlikely.
- C
Misconfigured RAID level, such as using RAID 5 for a write-intensive workload.
RAID 5 requires extra parity calculations on writes, increasing I/O wait; RAID 10 would be more appropriate for write-heavy databases.
- D
CPU overutilization on the database server.
Why wrong: CPU overutilization would show as high CPU usage, not high I/O wait. The hypervisor reports no CPU pressure.
PK0-005 Practice Question: Basics of IT Infrastructure and IT Project Management
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of basics of it infrastructure and it project management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 large organization is deploying a new ERP system. The infrastructure team provisions a cluster of virtual machines for the application and a separate database server. During load testing with typical user loads, the database server shows high I/O wait times. The storage administrator confirms that the storage array has sufficient capacity and the disks are healthy. The hypervisor shows no CPU or memory pressure. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the high I/O wait?
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
Misconfigured RAID level, such as using RAID 5 for a write-intensive workload.
RAID 5 uses parity-based striping, which incurs a write penalty (each write requires four I/O operations: read old data, read old parity, write new data, write new parity). For a write-intensive workload like an ERP database, this overhead causes high I/O wait times even when disks are healthy and capacity is sufficient. The correct answer is C because the misconfigured RAID level directly explains the observed symptom.
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.
- ✗
Network bandwidth saturation between the database and application servers.
Why it's wrong here
Network saturation would show as network latency or packet loss, not as high I/O wait on the database server.
- ✗
Insufficient memory on the database server causing paging.
Why it's wrong here
Insufficient memory would cause paging and high memory pressure, but the hypervisor shows no memory pressure, so this is unlikely.
- ✓
Misconfigured RAID level, such as using RAID 5 for a write-intensive workload.
Why this is correct
RAID 5 requires extra parity calculations on writes, increasing I/O wait; RAID 10 would be more appropriate for write-heavy databases.
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.
- ✗
CPU overutilization on the database server.
Why it's wrong here
CPU overutilization would show as high CPU usage, not high I/O wait. The hypervisor reports no CPU pressure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume high I/O wait always means a disk hardware failure or capacity issue, but the question explicitly states disks are healthy and capacity is sufficient, steering the answer toward a RAID-level misconfiguration that causes excessive write overhead.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Network saturation would show as network latency or packet loss, not as high I/O wait on the database server.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RAID 5's write penalty is a fundamental characteristic: for every small write, the controller must perform a read-modify-write cycle, quadrupling the I/O load on the physical disks. In contrast, RAID 10 (striped mirrors) has no parity overhead and only doubles writes, making it far more suitable for transactional databases. Tools like iostat on Linux can confirm this by showing high await times and high %util on the disk while the CPU remains idle (%iowait).
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 PK0-005 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PK0-005 question test?
Basics of IT Infrastructure and IT Project Management — This question tests Basics of IT Infrastructure and IT Project Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Misconfigured RAID level, such as using RAID 5 for a write-intensive workload. — RAID 5 uses parity-based striping, which incurs a write penalty (each write requires four I/O operations: read old data, read old parity, write new data, write new parity). For a write-intensive workload like an ERP database, this overhead causes high I/O wait times even when disks are healthy and capacity is sufficient. The correct answer is C because the misconfigured RAID level directly explains the observed symptom.
What should I do if I get this PK0-005 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
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 PK0-005 exam.
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