- A
Thick provisioning
Why wrong: Thick provisioning allocates the full disk size immediately, which would use more storage than necessary, not minimizing usage.
- B
Thin provisioning
Thin provisioning allocates storage as needed, allowing the VM to grow while using only the space actually required, minimizing storage usage.
- C
Fixed-size disk
Why wrong: A fixed-size disk is the same as thick provisioning, pre-allocating the full size and not saving space.
- D
Dynamic disk
Why wrong: Dynamic disk is a Windows disk management feature for physical disks, not a virtual disk type for VMs.
Question 283 of 750
Choosing Thin Provisioning to Minimize VM Storage Usage
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of virtualization and cloud technologies. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is configuring a new virtual machine for a developer. The developer needs to run multiple isolated environments for testing, but the host machine has limited storage space. Which type of virtual disk configuration should the technician use to minimize storage usage while still allowing the VM to grow as needed?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Quick Answer
The answer is thin provisioning, because it allocates storage on demand rather than pre-allocating the full virtual disk size. When configuring a virtual machine, thin provisioning writes only the data blocks actually used by the guest OS and applications, so the virtual disk file grows gradually as needed—perfect for a developer running multiple isolated test environments on a host with limited storage. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this concept tests your understanding of virtual disk types and their impact on storage efficiency. A common trap is confusing thin provisioning with thick provisioning, which pre-allocates the entire disk space upfront and wastes capacity on unused blocks. Remember, thin provisioning is like a “just-in-time” storage model—it only takes what it uses. A quick memory tip: “Thin is in—it saves the bin” (meaning it saves storage space in the bin or drive).
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
✓
Thin provisioning
Thin provisioning (Option B) allocates storage on demand, writing only the data blocks that are actually used, which minimizes initial storage consumption while allowing the virtual disk to grow dynamically up to its maximum configured size. This is ideal for the developer's scenario of multiple isolated test environments on a host with limited storage space.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Thick provisioning
Why it's wrong here
Thick provisioning allocates the full disk size immediately, which would use more storage than necessary, not minimizing usage.
- ✓
Thin provisioning
Why this is correct
Thin provisioning allocates storage as needed, allowing the VM to grow while using only the space actually required, minimizing storage usage.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Fixed-size disk
Why it's wrong here
A fixed-size disk is the same as thick provisioning, pre-allocating the full size and not saving space.
- ✗
Dynamic disk
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic disk is a Windows disk management feature for physical disks, not a virtual disk type for VMs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The A+ exam often tests the distinction between thin provisioning and dynamic disks, where candidates mistakenly choose 'dynamic disk' because it sounds like it grows, but it is a Windows RAID-like volume manager, not a virtual disk provisioning type.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In VMware vSphere, thin provisioning uses a virtual disk file (e.g., .vmdk) that starts small and expands as writes occur, with the hypervisor tracking allocated blocks via a grain table. A real-world trap is that thin provisioning can lead to overcommitment if multiple VMs grow simultaneously, potentially causing storage exhaustion and VM stun if the datastore runs out of space—this is why monitoring and alerting on datastore capacity is critical.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — This question tests Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Thin provisioning — Thin provisioning (Option B) allocates storage on demand, writing only the data blocks that are actually used, which minimizes initial storage consumption while allowing the virtual disk to grow dynamically up to its maximum configured size. This is ideal for the developer's scenario of multiple isolated test environments on a host with limited storage space.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.
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