- A
The VM is accessible but performance is degraded because the disk group on the failed host is gone.
Why wrong: Performance may be slightly impacted but the VM remains accessible; however, 'accessible but degraded' is not the most accurate statement regarding accessibility.
- B
The VM is inaccessible because the lost replica cannot be rebuilt without a replacement host.
Why wrong: The VM is still accessible; the lost replica can be rebuilt once a replacement host is added or the failed host is repaired.
- C
The VM is inaccessible because the witness component is now the only copy and cannot be used for reads.
Why wrong: The witness is not a data copy; it is used for metadata and quorum. The surviving replica provides the data.
- D
The VM is fully accessible because it still has one replica and the witness.
The surviving replica and witness provide sufficient redundancy to maintain full data accessibility.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the VM remains fully accessible because it still has one replica and the witness. With a storage policy configured for Number of failures to tolerate (FTT) = 1 and Primary level of failures = Host, vSAN creates two replicas and one witness component for the VM object. When one host fails and its replica is lost, the surviving replica and witness together provide a complete data set, allowing read and write operations to continue without interruption. This scenario tests your understanding of vSAN object accessibility and the role of the witness as a metadata component that enables quorum, not as a full data copy. On the VCP-DCV exam, a common trap is assuming that losing a replica means the VM is degraded or inaccessible, but with FTT=1, the witness ensures the object remains available. Remember the memory tip: “Two replicas, one witness; lose one replica, still in business.”
VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Storage Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of configure and manage vsphere storage. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An administrator manages a vSAN cluster with 5 ESXi hosts in a single failure domain. The cluster uses vSAN version 8 and is configured with a single disk group per host. A storage policy is applied to a group of VMs with 'Number of failures to tolerate = 1' and 'Primary level of failures = Host'. One host experiences a catastrophic hardware failure and is now marked as 'Absent' in the vSAN cluster. The administrator checks the vSAN health and finds that the affected host's disk group is completely lost. One of the VMs from that group previously had two replicas on different hosts and a witness component on a third host. The VM is still powered on, and the administrator sees that one replica was on the failed host. The other replica and witness are on surviving hosts. What is the current state of this VM regarding data accessibility?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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 is fully accessible because it still has one replica and the witness.
With FTT=1, the object has 2 replicas + 1 witness. The surviving replica and witness are sufficient to maintain read/write access. The VM remains fully accessible despite losing one replica. Option B is incorrect because vSAN can rebuild on another host if available. Option D is incorrect because the witness is metadata, not data.
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 VM is accessible but performance is degraded because the disk group on the failed host is gone.
Why it's wrong here
Performance may be slightly impacted but the VM remains accessible; however, 'accessible but degraded' is not the most accurate statement regarding accessibility.
- ✗
The VM is inaccessible because the lost replica cannot be rebuilt without a replacement host.
Why it's wrong here
The VM is still accessible; the lost replica can be rebuilt once a replacement host is added or the failed host is repaired.
- ✗
The VM is inaccessible because the witness component is now the only copy and cannot be used for reads.
Why it's wrong here
The witness is not a data copy; it is used for metadata and quorum. The surviving replica provides the data.
- ✓
The VM is fully accessible because it still has one replica and the witness.
Why this is correct
The surviving replica and witness provide sufficient redundancy to maintain full data accessibility.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 VCP-DCV exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Configure and Manage vSphere Storage — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this VCP-DCV question test?
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 VM is fully accessible because it still has one replica and the witness. — With FTT=1, the object has 2 replicas + 1 witness. The surviving replica and witness are sufficient to maintain read/write access. The VM remains fully accessible despite losing one replica. Option B is incorrect because vSAN can rebuild on another host if available. Option D is incorrect because the witness is metadata, not data.
What should I do if I get this VCP-DCV question wrong?
Identify which VCP-DCV exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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