This SNOW-CSA practice question tests your understanding of database administration and cmdb. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which CMDB relationship type should be used to represent that a server is physically installed in a rack?
Depends on
Why wrong: Depends on is for functional dependency, not physical containment.
Contains
Contains is used for physical hierarchy like rack and server.
Runs on
Why wrong: Runs on is for software to hardware relationships.
Connected to
Why wrong: Connected to is for network or cable connections.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Contains
The 'Contains' relationship type is correct because it models a parent-child containment hierarchy in the CMDB, where the rack is the container and the server is the contained item. This aligns with the CMDB's ability to represent physical location and dependencies, ensuring accurate service mapping and impact analysis.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Depends on
Why it's wrong here
Depends on is for functional dependency, not physical containment.
Contains
Why this is correct
Contains is used for physical hierarchy like rack and server.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Runs on
Why it's wrong here
Runs on is for software to hardware relationships.
Connected to
Why it's wrong here
Connected to is for network or cable connections.
Common exam traps
ServiceNow often tests the confusion between 'Contains' and 'Depends on' by presenting scenarios where physical location is implied but candidates mistakenly choose a dependency relationship due to misinterpreting 'installed in' as a functional reliance.
Detailed technical explanation
In ServiceNow CMDB, relationship types are defined in the 'cmdb_rel_type' table, and 'Contains' is a directed relationship from parent to child, enabling topological queries like 'Which servers are in rack RACK-001?' via the 'cmdb_rel_ci' table. This is critical for data center management, as it allows automated discovery tools (e.g., Service Mapping) to populate containment relationships from SNMP or IPMI data, ensuring accurate asset tracking and change impact analysis.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Database Administration and CMDB — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Database Administration and CMDB practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All SNOW-CSA questions
510 questions across all exam domains
ServiceNow Certified System Administrator CSA study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
SNOW-CSA practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SNOW-CSA questions linked to Reporting, SLA and Imports.
Practise SNOW-CSA questions linked to Self-Service and Automation.
Practise SNOW-CSA questions linked to UI, Navigation and Forms.
Practise SNOW-CSA questions linked to Database Administration and CMDB.
Practise SNOW-CSA questions linked to Service Catalog and Workflows.
Practise SNOW-CSA questions linked to Application Rules, ACL and Notifications.
Practise SNOW-CSA questions linked to SNOW-CSA fundamentals.
Practise SNOW-CSA questions linked to SNOW-CSA scenario.
Practise SNOW-CSA questions linked to SNOW-CSA troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Database Administration and CMDB — This question tests Database Administration and CMDB — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Contains — The 'Contains' relationship type is correct because it models a parent-child containment hierarchy in the CMDB, where the rack is the container and the server is the contained item. This aligns with the CMDB's ability to represent physical location and dependencies, ensuring accurate service mapping and impact analysis.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This SNOW-CSA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ServiceNow 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 SNOW-CSA exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.