VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Storage Practice Question
A vSphere administrator is troubleshooting a VM that has been disconnected from its virtual disk. The VM's virtual disk file (vmdk) is still present on the datastore, but the VM cannot be powered on. Which step should the administrator take first to resolve the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume the disk must be manually re-attached via the GUI (Option B), but vSphere requires the descriptor file to be intact for the disk to be recognized, and vmkfstools is the proper tool to repair it without data loss.
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
✓
Use the vmkfstools command to re-register the virtual disk.
When a VM is disconnected from its virtual disk but the .vmdk file remains on the datastore, the issue is often a corrupt or missing disk descriptor file. The vmkfstools command with the -fix option can repair the descriptor file, re-establishing the connection between the VM and its virtual disk without requiring VM recreation or manual re-attachment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a new VM and attach the existing vmdk file.
Why it's wrong here
Creating a new VM and attaching the existing VMDK does not repair the VM’s configuration file (.vmx), which holds the disk’s metadata and connection record; the VM cannot power on because the .vmx still lacks a valid disk reference. This step is tempting because it is the standard recovery method when a VM’s configuration file is lost or corrupted, as it rebuilds the VM object while preserving the disk data.
- ✗
Re-add the virtual disk from the datastore browser to the VM.
Why it's wrong here
The disk may not appear in the inventory if the descriptor is missing.
- ✓
Use the vmkfstools command to re-register the virtual disk.
Why this is correct
vmkfstools -i can recreate the descriptor file from the flat vmdk.
- ✗
Perform a storage vMotion of the VM to another datastore.
Why it's wrong here
Storage vMotion requires the VM to be powered on.
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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.