NCP-AIO Administration Practice Question
An administrator is setting up NVIDIA Base Command Manager to provision and manage a new AI cluster. They need to ensure that the cluster can automatically discover and configure new GPU nodes. Which component is responsible for node discovery and initial configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse Base Command Manager with Kubernetes-focused tools like the GPU Operator, which handle different layers of the stack.
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
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NVIDIA Base Command Manager head node
In NVIDIA Base Command Manager, the head node is the central management server that performs node discovery and initial configuration. It provides the provisioning services that allow new GPU nodes to be automatically detected and configured. The GPU Operator, Fleet Command, and Morpheus serve different purposes and are not involved in the initial provisioning of a Base Command Manager cluster.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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NVIDIA Fleet Command
Why it's wrong here
Fleet Command is a cloud-based service for managing edge AI deployments. It is not used for on-premises cluster provisioning or node discovery. It focuses on deploying and monitoring applications at the edge, not on initial cluster setup. Therefore, it does not fit the scenario of provisioning a new AI cluster with Base Command Manager.
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NVIDIA GPU Operator
Why it's wrong here
The GPU Operator is designed for Kubernetes clusters to automate the management of NVIDIA software components (drivers, container runtime, device plugin). It does not handle bare-metal node discovery or initial provisioning of an entire cluster. While it can configure GPU nodes once they are part of a Kubernetes cluster, it is not responsible for the initial discovery and setup of nodes in a Base Command Manager environment.
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NVIDIA Morpheus
Why it's wrong here
Morpheus is an AI cybersecurity framework for detecting threats in data streams. It is unrelated to cluster provisioning or node discovery. It runs on top of an existing infrastructure and does not manage hardware. Thus, it is not the component responsible for node discovery in Base Command Manager.
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NVIDIA Base Command Manager head node
Why this is correct
The head node in Base Command Manager is the central management server that handles node discovery, provisioning, and configuration. It runs services like DHCP, TFTP, and the provisioning engine that automatically detect new nodes when they PXE boot. It then applies the appropriate image and configuration. This is the core component for automating cluster setup, making it the correct answer for node discovery and initial configuration.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every NCP-AIO question from scratch — 309 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 NVIDIA exam blueprint
This NCP-AIO practice question is part of Courseiva's free NVIDIA 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 NCP-AIO exam.