- A
The failed cache device reduces the overall cache capacity, causing the policy to be violated.
Why wrong: Cache capacity is not a compliance metric for storage policies; compliance is based on component availability.
- B
The vSAN cluster has lost a fault domain due to the failed cache device.
Why wrong: A single cache device failure does not constitute a fault domain loss; the host is still functional with the other disk group.
- C
The RAID 5 policy requires a minimum of 4 hosts with cache devices, and now only 5 are available.
Why wrong: The number of hosts with functioning cache devices is still above the minimum; the issue is specific to the disk group.
- D
The failed cache device makes the entire disk group unavailable, so components on that disk group are inaccessible.
A failed cache device causes the entire disk group to be non-operational, leading to loss of any VM components stored on it, which results in non-compliance with the storage policy.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the failed cache device renders the entire disk group unavailable, making any VM components on that disk group inaccessible and causing storage policy non-compliance. In vSAN, each disk group is built around a single cache device; if that cache SSD fails, the entire disk group—including all its capacity SSDs—goes offline, regardless of whether those capacity drives are still functional. This means any VM objects or components stored on that disk group become unreachable, violating the RAID 5 erasure coding policy’s requirement that all replicas or parity stripes remain accessible. On the VCP-DCV exam, this question tests your understanding of vSAN disk group architecture and how a single point of failure at the cache layer can cascade into policy violations, even when cluster-wide capacity and fault domains remain intact. A common trap is assuming capacity SSDs can operate independently, but remember: in vSAN, the cache device is the gatekeeper—no cache, no group. Memory tip: “Cache crash, group trash.”
VCP-DCV Configure and Manage vSphere Storage Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of configure and manage vsphere storage. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 deploying VMs on a vSAN cluster with 6 hosts. Each host has two disk groups, each with one cache SSD and four capacity SSDs. The administrator applies a storage policy using RAID 5 erasure coding with Number of failures to tolerate set to 1. After some time, the administrator notices that several VMs are showing compliance status as 'Non-compliant'. Investigating further, the administrator finds that on one host, the cache SSD of the first disk group has failed. The capacity SSDs in that disk group are still functional. The vSAN cluster still has sufficient overall capacity and the health service shows no other issues. What is the most likely reason for the VMs' non-compliance?
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.
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 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 failed cache device makes the entire disk group unavailable, so components on that disk group are inaccessible.
A failed cache device renders the entire disk group non-operational; any VM components on that disk group become inaccessible, causing non-compliance. Option A is incorrect because cache capacity is not a compliance factor. Option B is incorrect because loss of a single cache device does not remove a fault domain. Option C is incorrect because the number of hosts with cache devices is still sufficient.
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 failed cache device reduces the overall cache capacity, causing the policy to be violated.
Why it's wrong here
Cache capacity is not a compliance metric for storage policies; compliance is based on component availability.
- ✗
The vSAN cluster has lost a fault domain due to the failed cache device.
Why it's wrong here
A single cache device failure does not constitute a fault domain loss; the host is still functional with the other disk group.
- ✗
The RAID 5 policy requires a minimum of 4 hosts with cache devices, and now only 5 are available.
Why it's wrong here
The number of hosts with functioning cache devices is still above the minimum; the issue is specific to the disk group.
- ✓
The failed cache device makes the entire disk group unavailable, so components on that disk group are inaccessible.
Why this is correct
A failed cache device causes the entire disk group to be non-operational, leading to loss of any VM components stored on it, which results in non-compliance with the storage policy.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "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.
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 failed cache device makes the entire disk group unavailable, so components on that disk group are inaccessible. — A failed cache device renders the entire disk group non-operational; any VM components on that disk group become inaccessible, causing non-compliance. Option A is incorrect because cache capacity is not a compliance factor. Option B is incorrect because loss of a single cache device does not remove a fault domain. Option C is incorrect because the number of hosts with cache devices is still sufficient.
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", "most likely". 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.
About these practice questions
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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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