SNOW-CSA Database Administration and CMDB Practice Question
This SNOW-CSA practice question tests your understanding of database administration and cmdb. 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 system administrator receives a request to add a new field called 'Business Impact' to the 'cmdb_ci' table. Which method should be used to ensure the field is available to all CI classes?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add the field to the 'cmdb_ci' table directly
The 'cmdb_ci' table is the base table for all Configuration Items (CIs) in the CMDB. Adding a field directly to this table ensures it is inherited by all child CI classes (e.g., cmdb_ci_computer, cmdb_ci_server) through the table hierarchy. This is the standard method for making a field universally available across all CI types without creating redundant or inconsistent data structures.
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.
✓
Add the field to the 'cmdb_ci' table directly
Why this is correct
This adds the field to the base table and all its descendants.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add the field to a child class like 'cmdb_ci_computer'
Why it's wrong here
Only that child class and its subtasks would have the field, not all CIs.
✗
Use the 'Include Table' configuration to add the field
Why it's wrong here
Include table links records but does not add a field to the base table schema.
✗
Create a new extension table for the field
Why it's wrong here
An extension table creates a separate table, not a field on the base table.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume adding a field to a specific child class is sufficient for all CIs, overlooking the inheritance hierarchy and the base table's role in universal field availability.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In ServiceNow, the CMDB uses a single-table inheritance model where the 'cmdb_ci' table acts as the root. All child tables extend from it, meaning any field added to the base table automatically appears in all child tables via the 'sys_metadata' and 'sys_dictionary' records. This approach maintains referential integrity and avoids the need for complex joins or manual propagation of field definitions across multiple tables.
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 SNOW-CSA 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.
Database Administration and CMDB — This question tests Database Administration and CMDB — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add the field to the 'cmdb_ci' table directly — The 'cmdb_ci' table is the base table for all Configuration Items (CIs) in the CMDB. Adding a field directly to this table ensures it is inherited by all child CI classes (e.g., cmdb_ci_computer, cmdb_ci_server) through the table hierarchy. This is the standard method for making a field universally available across all CI types without creating redundant or inconsistent data structures.
What should I do if I get this SNOW-CSA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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