The answer is to migrate DB01 to host04 first. This is correct because DRS recommendations are prioritized by their benefit percentage, which measures the improvement in cluster balance; the DB01 migration offers a 15% benefit compared to Web01’s 10%, so acting on the higher-impact move first reduces imbalance more efficiently. On the VMware Certified Professional Data Center Virtualization VCP-DCV exam, this tests your understanding of DRS recommendation priority—a common trap is to assume any recommendation is equally valid, but the exam expects you to apply the “highest benefit first” rule. When you see a list of DRS recommendations, always sort by benefit percentage descending, as the goal is to achieve cluster balance with the fewest migrations. A useful memory tip: “Biggest bang first”—the migration with the highest benefit percentage should always be your first action to reduce cluster imbalance.
VCP-DCV vSphere Performance and Scaling Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of vsphere performance and scaling. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Exhibit
vSphere DRS recommendation output:
Cluster: Production
Current load imbalance: 30%
Recommended migrations:
1. Move VM 'Web01' from host01 (CPU usage 85%) to host04 (CPU usage 30%)
Benefit: Improve balance by 10%
2. Move VM 'DB01' from host03 (CPU usage 90%) to host04 (CPU usage 30%)
Benefit: Improve balance by 15%
Note: host04 is in power-on state and has sufficient resources.
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator sees two DRS recommendations. Which action should the administrator take first to reduce cluster imbalance?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
vSphere DRS recommendation output:
Cluster: Production
Current load imbalance: 30%
Recommended migrations:
1. Move VM 'Web01' from host01 (CPU usage 85%) to host04 (CPU usage 30%)
Benefit: Improve balance by 10%
2. Move VM 'DB01' from host03 (CPU usage 90%) to host04 (CPU usage 30%)
Benefit: Improve balance by 15%
Note: host04 is in power-on state and has sufficient resources.
A
Migrate Web01 to host04 first
Why wrong: Web01 gives only 10% benefit, less effective than DB01.
B
Migrate DB01 to host04 first
DB01 provides a 15% benefit, which is higher, reducing imbalance faster.
C
Migrate both VMs simultaneously
Why wrong: Simultaneous migrations may cause resource contention; it's safer to do one at a time.
D
Ignore the recommendations; the cluster is balanced
Why wrong: 30% imbalance is significant and should be addressed.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Migrate DB01 to host04 first
The DB01 migration provides a higher benefit (15%) compared to Web01 (10%). Starting with the higher impact migration reduces imbalance more effectively.
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.
✗
Migrate Web01 to host04 first
Why it's wrong here
Web01 gives only 10% benefit, less effective than DB01.
✓
Migrate DB01 to host04 first
Why this is correct
DB01 provides a 15% benefit, which is higher, reducing imbalance faster.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Migrate both VMs simultaneously
Why it's wrong here
Simultaneous migrations may cause resource contention; it's safer to do one at a time.
✗
Ignore the recommendations; the cluster is balanced
Why it's wrong here
30% imbalance is significant and should be addressed.
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.
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: Migrate DB01 to host04 first — The DB01 migration provides a higher benefit (15%) compared to Web01 (10%). Starting with the higher impact migration reduces imbalance more effectively.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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