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.
Which storage feature in vSphere allows a VM to be migrated from one datastore to another without any downtime?
vMotion
Why wrong: vMotion migrates running VMs between hosts, not storage.
Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)
Why wrong: DRS balances compute resources.
Storage DRS
Why wrong: Storage DRS automates migrations but is not the underlying technology.
Storage vMotion
Storage vMotion migrates virtual disks with zero downtime.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Storage vMotion
Storage vMotion is the correct answer because it enables live migration of a virtual machine's virtual disk files from one datastore to another with zero downtime. It uses a mirrored copy mechanism where the source and destination datastores are synchronized before the VM is switched to the destination, ensuring continuous VM availability.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
vMotion
Why it's wrong here
vMotion migrates running VMs between hosts, not storage.
Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)
Why it's wrong here
DRS balances compute resources.
Storage DRS
Why it's wrong here
Storage DRS automates migrations but is not the underlying technology.
Storage vMotion
Why this is correct
Storage vMotion migrates virtual disks with zero downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing vMotion (host migration) with Storage vMotion (datastore migration), as both are live migration technologies but operate on entirely different resources.
Detailed technical explanation
Storage vMotion leverages a change block tracking (CBT) mechanism to copy only modified blocks during the iterative sync phase, minimizing the final switchover time. Under the hood, it creates a shadow VM on the destination datastore and uses a mirrored I/O path to write to both locations until the final cutover. In real-world scenarios, Storage vMotion is critical for storage array maintenance or storage tiering without disrupting production workloads.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Configure and Manage vSphere Storage — This question tests Configure and Manage vSphere Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Storage vMotion — Storage vMotion is the correct answer because it enables live migration of a virtual machine's virtual disk files from one datastore to another with zero downtime. It uses a mirrored copy mechanism where the source and destination datastores are synchronized before the VM is switched to the destination, ensuring continuous VM availability.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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