VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Networking Practice Question
An administrator has configured a vSphere Distributed Switch (VDS) with Network I/O Control. They need to guarantee bandwidth for a specific set of virtual machines. Which method should be used?
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
✓
Create a port group with a custom network resource pool.
Create a port group with a custom network resource pool. Network I/O Control allows administrators to create network resource pools to guarantee bandwidth for specific virtual machines or port groups. By creating a custom network resource pool and assigning it to a port group, you can reserve a certain amount of bandwidth. Option B is incorrect because SR-IOV provides direct hardware passthrough but does not manage bandwidth guarantees; it can actually bypass Network I/O Control. Option C is incorrect because setting a VLAN tag does not guarantee bandwidth; it only separates traffic. Option D is incorrect because traffic shaping is used to limit bandwidth (throttle outgoing traffic) but does not guarantee a minimum bandwidth; it only caps it.
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 port group with a custom network resource pool.
Why this is correct
Network I/O Control guarantees bandwidth through network resource pools, which are assigned to distributed port groups. Creating a port group with a custom resource pool reserves shares, limits or reservations for the specific VMs placed on it.
- ✗
Enable SR-IOV on the physical NICs.
Why it's wrong here
SR-IOV bypasses the virtual switch datapath, handing the NIC's virtual functions directly to VMs, so NIOC shares and reservations no longer apply. It is tempting because it improves throughput and reduces CPU overhead, and would be correct for high-performance, low-latency workloads rather than bandwidth guarantees.
- ✗
Set the virtual machine's network adapter to use a specific VLAN.
Why it's wrong here
VLAN tagging only provides Layer 2 segmentation and isolation; it carries no bandwidth reservation or share mechanism, so it cannot guarantee throughput. It is tempting because VLANs are the standard way to separate VM traffic groups, and would be correct for isolating or segmenting traffic rather than guaranteeing bandwidth.
- ✗
Configure Traffic Shaping on the distributed switch.
Why it's wrong here
Traffic shaping caps egress burst rates and average bandwidth on a dvPort, but it only limits throughput; it reserves nothing, so it cannot guarantee a minimum for selected VMs. It is tempting because it manipulates bandwidth parameters, and would be correct for rate-limiting or throttling outbound traffic.
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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.