- A
Add one additional disk group to each host to increase storage performance.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Adding disk groups can improve parallelism but does not directly reduce the overhead from FTT=2.
- B
Change the storage policy for the database VM to RAID-1 mirroring with FTT=1 (primary level of failures to tolerate).
Correct: Reducing FTT from 2 to 1 reduces the number of replicas from 3 to 2, decreasing write amplification and latency.
- C
Remove one host from the cluster to reduce network traffic.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Removing a host would reduce fault tolerance and may cause data unavailability.
- D
Add a fourth host to the vSAN cluster to distribute the load.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Adding a host may help with capacity but not directly with latency; the cluster already meets minimum requirements.
VCP-DCV vSphere Performance and Scaling Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of vsphere performance and scaling. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 company runs a 3-node vSAN cluster with all-flash configuration. Each host has 2 CPUs (8 cores each) and 256 GB RAM. The cluster hosts 30 VMs, including a critical database VM with 8 vCPUs and 64 GB RAM. Recently, users report that the database VM is slow during peak hours. The administrator checks vCenter performance charts and sees that the VM's CPU ready time averages 10%, and the vSAN latency spikes to 15 ms during peak hours. The storage policy for the database VM is set to RAID-1 mirroring with 2 failures to tolerate (FTT=2). The cluster is configured with 3 disk groups per host, each with one 400 GB NVMe cache SSD and two 2 TB SAS SSD capacity drives. Which action would most improve the performance of the database VM?
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
Change the storage policy for the database VM to RAID-1 mirroring with FTT=1 (primary level of failures to tolerate).
The database VM is experiencing high CPU ready time (10%) and vSAN latency spikes (15 ms). With FTT=2 and RAID-1 mirroring, each write must be replicated to three hosts (the primary and two mirrors), consuming significant storage and network resources. Reducing FTT to 1 lowers the write amplification from 3x to 2x, decreasing I/O latency and freeing up CPU cycles for the VM, directly addressing both symptoms.
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 one additional disk group to each host to increase storage performance.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Adding disk groups can improve parallelism but does not directly reduce the overhead from FTT=2.
- ✓
Change the storage policy for the database VM to RAID-1 mirroring with FTT=1 (primary level of failures to tolerate).
Why this is correct
Correct: Reducing FTT from 2 to 1 reduces the number of replicas from 3 to 2, decreasing write amplification and latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Remove one host from the cluster to reduce network traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Removing a host would reduce fault tolerance and may cause data unavailability.
- ✗
Add a fourth host to the vSAN cluster to distribute the load.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Adding a host may help with capacity but not directly with latency; the cluster already meets minimum requirements.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often focus on adding hardware (disk groups or hosts) to solve performance issues, overlooking that the storage policy's replication factor (FTT) directly controls write amplification and is the root cause of both CPU ready time and vSAN latency spikes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
vSAN with FTT=2 using RAID-1 mirroring writes each I/O to three hosts (primary + two mirrors), tripling the write traffic and consuming network bandwidth and cache capacity. Reducing FTT to 1 halves the write overhead, which directly reduces vSAN latency and frees up CPU resources for the VM, as CPU ready time often correlates with storage I/O wait times. In all-flash clusters, the cache tier is optimized for writes, but excessive replication can still saturate the NVMe cache and SAS capacity drives.
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 VCP-DCV 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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vSphere Performance and Scaling — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this VCP-DCV question test?
vSphere Performance and Scaling — This question tests vSphere Performance and Scaling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the storage policy for the database VM to RAID-1 mirroring with FTT=1 (primary level of failures to tolerate). — The database VM is experiencing high CPU ready time (10%) and vSAN latency spikes (15 ms). With FTT=2 and RAID-1 mirroring, each write must be replicated to three hosts (the primary and two mirrors), consuming significant storage and network resources. Reducing FTT to 1 lowers the write amplification from 3x to 2x, decreasing I/O latency and freeing up CPU cycles for the VM, directly addressing both symptoms.
What should I do if I get this VCP-DCV 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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This VCP-DCV practice question is part of Courseiva's free VMware 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 VCP-DCV exam.
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