VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Storage Practice Question
A vSAN cluster uses a storage policy with Primary Failures to Tolerate (PFTT) = 1 and Failure Tolerance Method = RAID-1 (Mirroring). What is the minimum number of hosts required to support this policy if each host contributes one disk group?
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
✓
3
For a vSAN cluster with PFTT=1 and RAID-1 mirroring, the minimum number of hosts required is 3. This ensures two copies of data (mirrors) and one witness component. A standard cluster with 2 hosts cannot support PFTT=1 because only two copies exist without a witness. Options 4 and 6 exceed the minimum, so option B (3) is correct.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
4
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: 4 hosts is more than necessary for PFTT=1.
- ✓
3
Why this is correct
Correct: vSAN requires 3 hosts for RAID-1 with PFTT=1 (2 data copies + 1 witness).
- ✗
6
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: 6 hosts is excessive for PFTT=1.
- ✗
2
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: With 2 hosts, you cannot achieve PFTT=1 in standard vSAN; you would need stretched cluster.
Quick reference
RAID Level Comparison
| RAID Level | Min Disks | Fault Tolerance | Read | Write | Usable Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 | 2 | None | Excellent | Excellent | 100% |
| RAID 1 | 2 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 50% |
| RAID 5 | 3 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 67–94% |
| RAID 6 | 4 | 2 disks | Good | Lower | 50–88% |
| RAID 10 | 4 | 1 disk per mirror | Excellent | Good | 50% |
RAID is not a backup strategy — it protects against disk failure but not against accidental deletion, ransomware, or site-level events.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on VCP-DCV
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. A VM is deployed with this storage policy. What is the minimum number of hosts required for the VM's objects to be provisioned successfully?
medium- A.4
- B.2
- C.1
- ✓ D.3
Why D: With FTT=1 and default RAID-1 mirroring, vSAN needs 2 data replicas plus 1 witness, requiring at least 3 hosts. A single host cannot tolerate failure; two hosts would work for FTT=0.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.