SK0-005 troubleshooting Practice Question
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?
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
✓
Evict Node B from the cluster and re-add it.
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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Evict Node B from the cluster and re-add it.
Why this is correct
After a node is offline for an extended period and hardware changes occur, eviction and re-addition can resolve configuration inconsistencies.
- ✗
Manually force start the cluster service on Node B with the /forcequorum switch.
Why it's wrong here
Using /forcequorum can cause a split-brain scenario; it is intended for emergency recovery and not a standard fix.
- ✗
Restore the system state backup on Node B.
Why it's wrong here
System state restore may revert cluster configuration but is more time-consuming and may not be necessary compared to eviction.
- ✗
Run the cluster validation wizard to check configuration.
Why it's wrong here
The validation wizard only reports configuration issues but does not make changes; it won't fix the quorum problem.
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Troubleshooting Hardware and Storage Issues
Key term
SQL
SQL is a standardized programming language used to manage and manipulate relational databases, enabling querying, updating, and data retrieval.
Key term
Dual In-line Memory Module
A Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) is a small circuit board that holds memory chips and plugs into a computer's motherboard to provide Random Access Memory (RAM).
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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.