The answer is to set the Primary level of failures to tolerate to 1 and the Primary level of failures to tolerate method to RAID-5 (Erasure Coding). This configuration minimizes storage overhead because RAID-5 erasure coding with PFTT=1 requires only a single parity component per stripe, using roughly 1.33x capacity compared to the 2x overhead of RAID-1 mirroring. On the VMware Certified Professional Data Center Virtualization VCP-DCV exam, this question tests your understanding of vSAN storage policies for all-flash clusters, where RAID-5 is the recommended default for capacity efficiency. A common trap is confusing RAID-5 (PFTT=1) with RAID-6 (PFTT=2), which doubles parity overhead. Remember the memory tip: “RAID-5 saves one drive, RAID-6 saves two” — for PFTT=1, always choose RAID-5 erasure coding to balance fault tolerance and capacity.
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.
An administrator is configuring a vSAN cluster with all-flash capacity. The cluster uses RAID-5 erasure coding with a policy of 'Number of failures to tolerate = 1' (PFTT=1). The administrator wants to minimize storage overhead while ensuring availability. Which vSAN storage policy setting should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set 'Primary level of failures to tolerate' to 1 and 'Primary level of failures to tolerate method' to 'RAID-5 (Erasure Coding)'
For all-flash vSAN, RAID-5/6 erasure coding is recommended. With PFTT=1, RAID-5 requires only 1 parity component, minimizing overhead. Option C is correct. Option A (RAID-1 mirroring) would use more capacity. Option B (RAID-6) is for PFTT=2 and adds more overhead. Option D (no redundancy) is not fault tolerant.
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.
✗
Set 'Primary level of failures to tolerate' to 1 and 'Primary level of failures to tolerate method' to 'RAID-1 (Mirroring)'
Why it's wrong here
Mirroring uses more capacity than erasure coding.
✗
Set 'Primary level of failures to tolerate' to 2 and 'Primary level of failures to tolerate method' to 'RAID-6 (Erasure Coding)'
Why it's wrong here
RAID-6 provides higher tolerance but more overhead, not minimal for PFTT=1.
✓
Set 'Primary level of failures to tolerate' to 1 and 'Primary level of failures to tolerate method' to 'RAID-5 (Erasure Coding)'
Why this is correct
RAID-5 with PFTT=1 provides efficient capacity usage and fault tolerance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set 'Primary level of failures to tolerate' to 0
Why it's wrong here
No redundancy means no protection against failures.
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.
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: Set 'Primary level of failures to tolerate' to 1 and 'Primary level of failures to tolerate method' to 'RAID-5 (Erasure Coding)' — For all-flash vSAN, RAID-5/6 erasure coding is recommended. With PFTT=1, RAID-5 requires only 1 parity component, minimizing overhead. Option C is correct. Option A (RAID-1 mirroring) would use more capacity. Option B (RAID-6) is for PFTT=2 and adds more overhead. Option D (no redundancy) is not fault tolerant.
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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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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