VCP-DCV vSphere Performance and Scaling Practice Question
An administrator configures a resource pool with a CPU reservation and expandable reservation enabled. The root resource pool has 100% of cluster CPU resources. A VM inside the resource pool with no reservation requests CPU resources. What will happen when the VM tries to power on?
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
✓
The VM can power on using resources from the resource pool or its parent due to expandable reservation.
With expandable reservation enabled, the resource pool can borrow CPU resources from the parent resource pool (root) if needed. Since the VM has no reservation, it does not require any guaranteed CPU capacity; it can power on as long as there are any unreserved resources in the resource pool or parent. Option A is incorrect because shares only affect priority during contention, not the ability to power on. Option C is incorrect because the reservation on the resource pool does not prevent VMs without reservations from powering on; it only guarantees that a certain amount of resources is reserved for the pool. Option D is incorrect because the VM does not need a reservation to power on; it can use unreserved resources from the pool or borrowed from the parent.
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 VM can power on but will be limited to the resource pool's shares.
Why it's wrong here
Without reservation, the VM can exceed the pool's reservation if expandable is enabled.
- ✓
The VM can power on using resources from the resource pool or its parent due to expandable reservation.
Why this is correct
Expandable reservation allows the pool to borrow from parent if needed, so the VM can start.
- ✗
The VM cannot power on because the resource pool has a reservation set.
Why it's wrong here
The reservation limits the pool, but the VM without reservation can still use unreserved capacity.
- ✗
The VM can power on using resources from the resource pool only if it has a reservation.
Why it's wrong here
Reservation is not required to power on.
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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.