SK0-005 security-disaster-recovery Practice Question
A company uses a two-node failover cluster for a critical application. The cluster nodes are located in the same data center, and the quorum configuration uses a file share witness on a separate server in the same data center. During a major power outage, both cluster nodes and the file share witness server lose power. What is the impact on cluster availability?
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
✓
The cluster will be offline until one of the nodes or the witness comes back online.
In a two-node cluster with a file share witness, if both nodes and the witness are unavailable, the cluster cannot achieve quorum and will be offline. This is because the cluster requires a majority of votes to stay online. With only two nodes, the witness is needed to break ties. Without any votes, the cluster fails.
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 cluster will automatically fail over to a third site because the witness server is unavailable.
Why it's wrong here
There is no third site; the witness is only a file share, not a failover target.
- ✗
The cluster continues operating because the nodes can use a dynamic quorum and adjust the vote count.
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic quorum can adjust votes, but if all nodes and the witness are down, there are no votes to adjust.
- ✓
The cluster will be offline until one of the nodes or the witness comes back online.
Why this is correct
With all three voting members down, there are zero votes, below the quorum majority. The cluster will not start until at least two members are available (e.g., both nodes, or one node and the witness).
- ✗
The cluster remains online because the nodes can communicate directly and form quorum without the witness.
Why it's wrong here
A two-node cluster without a witness cannot achieve quorum if one node fails; if both nodes are down, neither can vote.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Configuration and Connectivity
Key term
Impact
Impact is the measure of the potential damage or harm that a risk event could cause to an organization's assets, operations, or reputation.
Key term
Failover
Failover is the automatic switching to a backup system when the primary system fails, ensuring continuous operation and minimal downtime.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on SK0-005
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. The Coho Vineyard company operates a two-node Windows Server failover cluster to provide high availability for a critical SQL database. Node A has been running the database workload without issues, while Node B was taken offline two weeks ago due to a memory module failure. The faulty memory was replaced, and Node B was powered on. The administrator verified that Node B boots correctly, the network links are up, and the cluster service is running. However, the database role fails to start on Node B. Checking the cluster logs reveals that Node B cannot join the cluster, and the event 'Cluster service has lost quorum' is recorded. The administrator confirms both nodes can ping each other and access the shared SAN storage, but the cluster disk resource appears as 'Offline' on Node B. What should the administrator do to resolve the issue and bring the database online?
hard- ✓ A.Evict Node B from the cluster and re-add it.
- B.Manually force start the cluster service on Node B with the /forcequorum switch.
- C.Restore the system state backup on Node B.
- D.Run the cluster validation wizard to check configuration.
Why A: Evicting and re-adding the node clears stale configuration and allows it to rejoin the cluster properly after an extended period offline and hardware replacement.
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed July 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.