VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Storage Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of configure and manage vsphere storage. 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 vSphere environment uses an iSCSI storage array with multiple targets. The administrator configures CHAP authentication but some hosts fail to connect. The working hosts are configured with mutual CHAP, while the failing hosts use only one-way CHAP. What is the most likely reason for the failures?
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 storage array requires mutual CHAP, but the failing hosts are configured for one-way CHAP.
The correct answer is B because mutual CHAP requires the target to authenticate the initiator and the initiator to authenticate the target. If the storage array is configured to require mutual CHAP, hosts using only one-way CHAP will fail to complete the authentication handshake. The working hosts are configured with mutual CHAP, confirming the array enforces mutual authentication.
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 CHAP secret is not set on the failing hosts.
Why it's wrong here
The hosts have one-way CHAP, so secret is set.
✓
The storage array requires mutual CHAP, but the failing hosts are configured for one-way CHAP.
Why this is correct
Mutual CHAP requires both sides to authenticate.
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 iSCSI target name is incorrect on the failing hosts.
Why it's wrong here
Target name is likely correct because connection attempt is made.
✗
The storage array is configured to use only one-way CHAP.
Why it's wrong here
If array used one-way, mutual would fail, but mutual works.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume CHAP configuration is binary (enabled or disabled) and overlook the distinction between one-way and mutual CHAP, leading them to incorrectly select a missing secret or target name issue.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In iSCSI CHAP, one-way CHAP uses a single secret for the target to authenticate the initiator, while mutual CHAP uses two separate secrets (or the same secret in some implementations) for bidirectional authentication. The iSCSI RFC 7143 specifies that mutual CHAP involves a three-step handshake where the target sends its own CHAP challenge after the initiator is authenticated; if the target expects this second challenge and the initiator does not send it, the connection is dropped. In real-world deployments, storage arrays like Dell EMC or NetApp often enforce mutual CHAP for security compliance, and misconfiguration between one-way and mutual CHAP is a common cause of partial connectivity.
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.
Configure and Manage vSphere Storage — This question tests Configure and Manage vSphere Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The storage array requires mutual CHAP, but the failing hosts are configured for one-way CHAP. — The correct answer is B because mutual CHAP requires the target to authenticate the initiator and the initiator to authenticate the target. If the storage array is configured to require mutual CHAP, hosts using only one-way CHAP will fail to complete the authentication handshake. The working hosts are configured with mutual CHAP, confirming the array enforces mutual authentication.
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.
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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