Question 123 of 144
SK0-005 server-hardware-installation-management Practice Question
A company has a virtualized server environment with two physical hosts running VMware vSphere. Each host has 2 CPUs, 128GB RAM, and 6x 600GB SAS drives in RAID 10. Recently, host A experienced a power surge that caused it to shut down abruptly. After restarting, the host boots but the RAID controller reports that one of the drives in the RAID 10 array is missing. The administrator has a replacement drive of the same model. What should the administrator do first?
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
✓
Check the RAID controller logs to determine if the drive is faulty or if it's a connection issue, and then reseat the drive or replace cables before replacing
The most appropriate first step is to troubleshoot the connection. The drive might be loose or the cable damaged due to the surge. Option C is correct because reseating or checking cables is non-invasive and could resolve the issue without replacing a working drive. Option A is incorrect because replacing immediately might be unnecessary if the drive is fine. Option B is incorrect because setting as hot spare won't help if the drive is not detected. Option D is incorrect because rebuilding the entire array is drastic and risks data loss.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use the RAID controller utility to set the new drive as a hot spare and then reboot
Why it's wrong here
The new drive is not yet installed; setting as hot spare won't help if the missing drive is not detected.
- ✗
Replace the missing drive with the new one and allow the RAID controller to automatically rebuild
Why it's wrong here
This might be premature; the issue could be a loose connection, not a failed drive.
- ✓
Check the RAID controller logs to determine if the drive is faulty or if it's a connection issue, and then reseat the drive or replace cables before replacing
Why this is correct
Checking logs and reseating is the safest first step to confirm the drive is actually faulty.
- ✗
Rebuild the entire RAID array after backing up data from the surviving drives
Why it's wrong here
This is excessive and risks data loss; a single drive issue can usually be resolved with less drastic measures.
Visual reference
Quick reference
RAID Level Comparison
| RAID Level | Min Disks | Fault Tolerance | Read | Write | Usable Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 | 2 | None | Excellent | Excellent | 100% |
| RAID 1 | 2 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 50% |
| RAID 5 | 3 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 67–94% |
| RAID 6 | 4 | 2 disks | Good | Lower | 50–88% |
| RAID 10 | 4 | 1 disk per mirror | Excellent | Good | 50% |
RAID is not a backup strategy — it protects against disk failure but not against accidental deletion, ransomware, or site-level events.
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Last reviewed: Jul 26, 2026
This SK0-005 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 SK0-005 exam.
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