The correct answer is that vSphere Fault Tolerance is a valid use case for protecting a critical application VM requiring zero downtime during a host failure. This is because FT uses vLockstep technology to maintain an identical secondary VM on a different host, continuously mirroring the primary VM’s memory and execution state, so if the primary host fails, the secondary takes over instantly with no data loss or interruption. On the VCP-DCV exam, this question tests your understanding that FT is designed for low-vCPU, stateful workloads where any downtime is unacceptable, and a common trap is confusing FT with High Availability, which provides restart but not continuous availability. Remember that FT supports up to 8 vCPUs per VM in vSphere 7.0+, but it is not intended for high-vCPU or storage-intensive workloads due to performance overhead. A helpful memory tip: FT stands for “Faultless Transition” because it guarantees zero downtime for critical VMs.
VCP-DCV vSphere Architecture, Products and Solutions Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of vsphere architecture, products and solutions. 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.
Which TWO of the following are valid use cases for vSphere Fault Tolerance (FT)? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A VM with 4 vCPUs that must be protected from host failure.
B is correct because vSphere Fault Tolerance (FT) supports VMs with up to 8 vCPUs (vSphere 7.0+) and provides continuous availability by maintaining a secondary VM that mirrors the primary VM's state via vLockstep, ensuring zero downtime in case of host failure. This makes it suitable for protecting a 4-vCPU VM from host failure.
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.
✗
A VM that has a snapshot for backup purposes.
Why it's wrong here
FT does not support VMs with snapshots.
✓
A VM with 4 vCPUs that must be protected from host failure.
Why this is correct
FT supports up to 8 vCPUs in vSphere 7 and later.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
A VM running a critical application that requires zero downtime in case of host failure.
Why this is correct
FT provides continuous availability with no data loss.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A VM with a physical RDM (Raw Device Mapping) attached.
Why it's wrong here
FT does not support physical RDMs.
✗
A VM with 16 vCPUs that requires high availability.
Why it's wrong here
FT supports only up to 8 vCPUs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse vSphere FT with vSphere HA, assuming FT can protect any VM regardless of vCPU count or configuration, but FT has strict limits (max 8 vCPUs, no snapshots, no physical RDMs) that are frequently tested in the exam.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
vSphere FT uses vLockstep technology to capture all inputs (CPU, memory, I/O) from the primary VM and replay them on the secondary VM in real-time, ensuring identical execution. This requires a dedicated FT logging network with low latency (typically <5ms RTT) and sufficient bandwidth (at least 1 Gbps) to handle the replication traffic. In a real-world scenario, FT is ideal for mission-critical applications like databases or ERP systems that cannot tolerate even seconds of downtime, but it imposes a performance overhead of 5-10% on the primary VM due to the logging overhead.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
vSphere Architecture, Products and Solutions — This question tests vSphere Architecture, Products and Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A VM with 4 vCPUs that must be protected from host failure. — B is correct because vSphere Fault Tolerance (FT) supports VMs with up to 8 vCPUs (vSphere 7.0+) and provides continuous availability by maintaining a secondary VM that mirrors the primary VM's state via vLockstep, ensuring zero downtime in case of host failure. This makes it suitable for protecting a 4-vCPU VM from host failure.
What should I do if I get this VCP-DCV question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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