SK0-005 server-hardware-installation-management Practice Question
A technician is monitoring a server with a RAID 5 array that has a hot spare. One of the drives fails. Which of the following actions will occur automatically in this configuration?
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 hot spare will be activated and the array will start rebuilding
When a hot spare is present, the RAID controller automatically activates the spare and begins rebuilding the array without operator intervention. Degraded operation without a hot spare requires manual replacement. Shutdown and mirroring are not typical behaviors.
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 server will shut down to protect data
Why it's wrong here
RAID 5 can tolerate a single drive failure without shutting down; a hot spare prevents even degraded operation.
- ✗
The array will continue to operate in degraded mode until manual intervention
Why it's wrong here
This would happen if no hot spare were configured; with a hot spare, the rebuild is automatic.
- ✗
The data will be mirrored to another server
Why it's wrong here
Mirroring between servers is a separate replication feature, not a function of RAID or hot spares.
- ✓
The hot spare will be activated and the array will start rebuilding
Why this is correct
This is the standard behavior of a hot spare—automatic replacement and rebuild to restore redundancy.
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.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Configuration and Connectivity
Key term
RAID 5
RAID 5 is a disk array configuration that uses block-level striping with distributed parity to provide fault tolerance and good read performance while using storage space efficiently.
Key term
Controller
A controller is a hardware chip or software program that manages data flow and communication between a computer's operating system and its connected devices or networks.
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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.