VCP-VVF Troubleshoot And Optimize Practice Question
An administrator is troubleshooting high memory utilization on an ESXi 9.0 host using esxtop. Which TWO memory metrics in esxtop are primary indicators that the host is experiencing severe memory pressure and actively reclaiming memory from virtual machines? (Choose two.)
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
✓
MCTLSZ (Ballooned memory size)
In esxtop (memory view), 'SWCUR' (current swap space used) and 'COW' or 'ACTV' (active memory) or 'SHRD' indicate state, but memory reclamation techniques such as transparent page sharing (TPS), ballooning, and swapping are tracked by specific counters. Specifically, 'MEMSZ', 'TRES', 'SWCUR', and ballooning metrics like 'MCTLSZ' (memory control size) indicate balloon driver activity, and 'SWCUR' indicates swapping.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
MCTLSZ (Ballooned memory size)
Why this is correct
MCTLSZ shows the amount of memory reclaimed by the VM's balloon driver, indicating host memory pressure.
- ✓
SWCUR (Current swap usage)
Why this is correct
SWCUR shows how much virtual machine memory has been swapped out to disk by the hypervisor due to severe memory shortage.
- ✗
MEMSZ (Total memory size assigned)
Why it's wrong here
MEMSZ simply reflects configured memory size, not dynamic reclamation activity or pressure.
- ✗
RPCT (Reservation percentage)
Why it's wrong here
RPCT is a configuration setting indicator, not a reclamation or pressure metric.
- ✗
CPSIZ (Compressed page size)
Why it's wrong here
Memory compression is a legacy feature, and CPSIZ is not a standard primary pressure metric in modern esxtop views.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official VMware exam blueprint
This VCP-VVF 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-VVF exam.