VCP-DCV vSphere Lifecycle Management Practice Question
An administrator manages a cluster of 10 identical ESXi hosts using vLCM with image-based management. After importing a new hardware support package (HSP) and applying a new image specification, 5 hosts report non-compliant with the error 'Firmware version not supported'. The compliant hosts and non-compliant hosts are from the same vendor model. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
VCP-DCV often tests the distinction between image application errors and firmware compatibility errors, tricking candidates into choosing options about image distribution or hardware differences when the real issue is firmware version mismatch with the HSP.
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 firmware version on the non-compliant hosts is newer than what the hardware support package supports.
The error 'Firmware version not supported' in vLCM image-based management indicates that the HSP (Hardware Support Package) included in the image specification does not support the firmware version currently running on the non-compliant hosts. HSPs are vendor-provided bundles that define supported firmware/driver combinations for specific hardware models. If the hosts have a newer firmware version than what the HSP was validated against, vLCM flags them as non-compliant because the HSP cannot guarantee compatibility. Since all hosts are the same vendor model, the difference must be in firmware version, not hardware model or image application.
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 image specification was applied only to the compliant hosts.
Why it's wrong here
Applying the image specification only to compliant hosts would leave the others unassigned, producing a compliance or image-mismatch state, not a firmware version error. It tempts because selective application causes non-compliance, but the specific firmware message points to the hosts' installed firmware not matching the HSP's supported versions.
- ✗
The non-compliant hosts have a different manufacturer than the compliant ones.
Why it's wrong here
The stem states all ten hosts are the same vendor model, so a different manufacturer is factually impossible here; that would also produce a hardware compatibility error rather than a firmware version message. It tempts because vendor mismatch does break HSP compliance, but the identical-model detail rules it out.
- ✗
The vLCM service failed to download the HSP to the non-compliant hosts.
Why it's wrong here
A failed HSP download would surface as a download or import error, not 'Firmware version not supported'; the HSP is present because the image applied. It tempts because download failures do cause non-compliance, but this error indicates the hosts' installed firmware falls outside the HSP's supported version range.
- ✓
The firmware version on the non-compliant hosts is newer than what the hardware support package supports.
Why this is correct
An HSP bundles validated firmware baselines per server model. Hosts already flashed beyond that validated version fail the image compliance check with 'Firmware version not supported', since vLCM cannot downgrade or match them to the package's supported firmware level.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official VMware exam blueprint
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.