The answer is that the VM is experiencing memory contention manifesting as disk latency, as indicated by the %MLMTD metric. %MLMTD stands for "percentage of time the VM is memory-limited due to the host's memory overcommitment," and a value of 10% means the hypervisor is actively throttling the VM’s memory access, which in turn starves its disk I/O operations and inflates latency. On the VCP-DCV exam, this is a classic trap: candidates often jump to storage or CPU causes when they see high disk latency, but the esxtop memory metrics—specifically %MLMTD—directly point to memory pressure, especially when %SWPWT is zero (no swapping). Remember, memory contention can throttle all VM operations, including disk, even on an all-flash array. Memory tip: think "MLMTD = Memory Limited, I/O Delayed."
VCP-DCV vSphere Performance and Scaling Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of vsphere performance and scaling. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A vSphere administrator is troubleshooting a performance issue on a VM that has high average latency on its virtual disks. The VM is stored on a VMFS datastore backed by an all-flash array. The VM has 4 vCPUs and 16GB memory. The administrator runs esxtop and sees %USEDRDY: 0.5, %MLMTD: 10, %SWPWT: 0. What is the most likely cause of the high disk latency?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 experiencing memory contention that is manifesting as disk latency
%MLMTD indicates memory contention. When memory resources are constrained, the hypervisor may throttle the VM, affecting all operations including disk I/O. Option D is correct. Options A and C are not supported by the esxtop metrics. Option B is incorrect because %SWPWT is 0, indicating no swapping.
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.
✗
Memory ballooning is causing excessive swapping
Why it's wrong here
%SWPWT is 0, so no swapping is occurring.
✗
CPU ready time is high
Why it's wrong here
%USEDRDY is low (0.5), so CPU is not the issue.
✗
Storage controller queue depth is full
Why it's wrong here
The all-flash array should handle queue depth; esxtop shows no storage metrics.
✓
The VM is experiencing memory contention that is manifesting as disk latency
Why this is correct
High %MLMTD (10%) indicates memory contention, which can degrade overall VM performance including disk I/O.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" 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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The all-flash array should handle queue depth; esxtop shows no storage metrics.
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.
vSphere Performance and Scaling — This question tests vSphere Performance and Scaling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The VM is experiencing memory contention that is manifesting as disk latency — %MLMTD indicates memory contention. When memory resources are constrained, the hypervisor may throttle the VM, affecting all operations including disk I/O. Option D is correct. Options A and C are not supported by the esxtop metrics. Option B is incorrect because %SWPWT is 0, indicating no swapping.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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