VCP-DCV vSphere Performance and Scaling Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. ``` # dvs_port_statistics (partial) Port ID: 1234 Packets Received: 15000000 Packets Transmitted: 10000000 Dropped Rx: 150 Dropped Tx: 10 Rx CRC Errors: 10 ```
Refer to the exhibit. A distributed virtual switch port shows dropped Rx packets and CRC errors. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse CRC errors (Layer 1 physical corruption) with MTU mismatch or VLAN misconfiguration (Layer 2/3 issues), leading them to select options that address logical configuration rather than physical cabling faults.
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
✓
Faulty physical network cable or NIC.
CRC errors and dropped Rx packets on a distributed virtual switch port indicate physical-layer corruption of frames, typically caused by a faulty cable, damaged NIC, or bad transceiver. These errors occur when the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) computed by the receiver does not match the frame's CRC field, which is a direct symptom of signal integrity issues at Layer 1.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Faulty physical network cable or NIC.
Why this is correct
CRC errors and dropped receive packets indicate corrupted frames arriving at the physical layer, typically from a damaged cable, faulty NIC, or bad transceiver. This points to the physical medium rather than switch policy or VLAN misconfiguration.
- ✗
Outdated NIC driver on the ESXi host.
Why it's wrong here
An outdated NIC driver can cause CRC errors and Rx drops, but the exhibit's pattern points to the physical link or cabling, since CRC errors originate at layer 1. Driver faults typically affect transmit path or produce resets. Driver updates suit compatibility or performance issues without physical-layer corruption.
- ✗
MTU mismatch between the switch and the VM.
Why it's wrong here
CRC errors and dropped Rx frames indicate Layer 1 corruption or duplex mismatch, not fragmentation. An MTU mismatch produces oversized-frame drops and path-MTU black holes, typically with no CRC errors. MTU alignment is the right fix when jumbo frames are enabled on some devices but not others.
- ✗
Incorrect VLAN configuration on the port group.
Why it's wrong here
CRC errors indicate corrupted frames at the physical or data-link layer, whereas VLAN misconfiguration causes connectivity loss or wrong broadcast domains, not checksum failures. VLAN tagging would be the cause if frames arrived intact but landed in the wrong segment.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every VCP-DCV question from scratch — 281 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.