VCP-DCV vSphere Performance and Scaling Practice Question
An administrator is analyzing performance data for a vSphere cluster and wants to identify VMs that are experiencing memory pressure. Which two metrics from esxtop or vCenter performance charts reliably indicate that a VM is actively reclaiming memory due to contention? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Ballooned memory
Memory ballooning and swapping are clear indicators of memory pressure. Ballooning occurs when the VMkernel reclaims memory from a VM via the balloon driver, and swapping occurs when the hypervisor is forced to swap pages to disk. Active memory is the currently used memory, not a sign of pressure. Consumed memory includes overhead and target memory. Overhead memory is the hypervisor overhead, not a pressure metric.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Consumed memory
Why it's wrong here
Consumed memory includes target memory and overhead; not a direct pressure indicator.
- ✗
Active memory
Why it's wrong here
Active memory is the amount of memory currently in use by the VM; it does not indicate pressure.
- ✓
Ballooned memory
Why this is correct
Ballooned memory shows the amount of memory reclaimed via the balloon driver, a sign of memory pressure.
- ✓
Swapped memory
Why this is correct
High swapped memory indicates the hypervisor is swapping pages to disk due to memory overcommitment.
- ✗
Overhead memory
Why it's wrong here
Overhead memory is the hypervisor's own memory usage and not related to VM memory pressure.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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