F5CAB4 Control Plane Administration Practice Question
Exhibit
cat /var/log/ltm ... err mcpd[1234]: 01070712:3: Caught configuration exception... ... err mcpd[1234]: 0107142e:3: Configuration error: database is locked
Refer to the exhibit. The administrator encounters a 'database is locked' error while attempting to push a configuration change. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume a database lock indicates hardware failure or disk corruption, missing that it simply means another administrative process is currently active.
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
✓
Another administrative task is currently modifying the configuration database.
The 'database is locked' error in mcpd typically occurs when another administrative process, such as a concurrent TMSH transaction, a scheduled sync, or an automated API task, currently holds a write lock on the configuration database. Since mcpd requires exclusive access to apply changes, any competing operation prevents new writes. This matters because it highlights the necessity of managing concurrent control plane tasks to prevent configuration corruption and ensure atomic updates.
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 TMM process has crashed and is holding a mutex on the mcpd socket.
Why it's wrong here
TMM and mcpd operate as separate processes with distinct memory spaces and communication channels. TMM cannot lock the mcpd configuration database. If TMM crashes, the system enters a failover state, but it does not cause database lock errors within the configuration management daemon itself during normal operations.
- ✓
Another administrative task is currently modifying the configuration database.
Why this is correct
The mcpd process enforces serialized access to the configuration database to prevent race conditions during updates. If a sync, an API call, or a manual TMSH script is already in progress, other configuration attempts will fail with a database lock error until the previous transaction completes its commit.
- ✗
The disk partition hosting /var/config is full, preventing write operations.
Why it's wrong here
A full disk partition would result in 'no space left on device' errors rather than a 'database is locked' error. While disk capacity is critical for the control plane, the specific error message provided points to a concurrency conflict within the database management logic rather than physical storage limitations.
- ✗
The SSH daemon has been compromised, leading to unauthorized file locks.
Why it's wrong here
While system security is paramount, SSH compromise does not manifest as a mcpd database lock error. Database locks are internal application-level concurrency controls managed by the BIG-IP software. This error is diagnostic of administrative process overlap, not a sign of external unauthorized file system modification or malicious activity.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official F5 exam blueprint
This F5CAB4 practice question is part of Courseiva's free F5 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 F5CAB4 exam.