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.
An organization uses ServiceNow Discovery to populate the CMDB. They notice that some CIs are missing required relationships after discovery. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The discovery probes and sensors are not configured to create relationships.
Discovery probes and sensors are responsible for collecting data from devices, but they do not automatically create relationships unless specifically configured to do so. If the probes and sensors lack the necessary configuration to identify and record relationships, the discovered CIs will remain isolated in the CMDB. This is the most common cause of missing relationships after a Discovery run.
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.
✗
The discovered CIs are in different classes that do not have relationship rules.
Why it's wrong here
Relationships are generally cross-class and defined by the probes, not class rules.
✓
The discovery probes and sensors are not configured to create relationships.
Why this is correct
Probes and sensors must be designed to identify and create relationships during discovery.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The IRE is set to 'reconcile only' and not 'create'.
Why it's wrong here
IRE reconcile only would still update relationships, not prevent creation.
✗
The relationship type is not defined in the CMDB.
Why it's wrong here
If the relationship type is missing, discovery would still create it using a default type or fail, but this is less common.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the IRE's role (which handles CI creation and reconciliation) with the role of Discovery probes/sensors (which handle relationship creation), leading them to incorrectly select Option C.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Discovery uses horizontal and vertical probes to gather data, and sensors parse that data to populate the CMDB. The creation of relationships relies on specific sensors (e.g., the 'Relationship Sensor') that are enabled by default but can be disabled or misconfigured. In a real-world scenario, if an organization customizes Discovery patterns and omits the relationship sensor from a pattern, all discovered CIs will be created without any relationships, leading to an incomplete CMDB.
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: The discovery probes and sensors are not configured to create relationships. — Discovery probes and sensors are responsible for collecting data from devices, but they do not automatically create relationships unless specifically configured to do so. If the probes and sensors lack the necessary configuration to identify and record relationships, the discovered CIs will remain isolated in the CMDB. This is the most common cause of missing relationships after a Discovery run.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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