SK0-005 CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

The concept of right to downgrade allows a previous version of an OS to be installed and covered by the same license as the newer version. For example, if a customer has a license for Windows 10 Pro, they can choose to install Windows 8.1 Pro or Windows 7 Professional instead and still be compliant with the license terms. Downgrade rights are granted by Microsoft for certain products and programs, such as Windows and Windows Server software acquired through Commercial Licensing, OEM, or retail channels. Downgrade rights are intended to provide customers with flexibility and compatibility when using Microsoft software.

If the server is not reachable by name but can be accessed by IP address, it means that there is a problem with name resolution. The hosts file and the DNS server are both responsible for mapping hostnames to IP addresses. Therefore, the server administrator should check these two files for any errors or inconsistencies that might prevent the server from being resolved by name. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/662249/how-to-edit-the-hosts-file-on-linux/ https://www.howtogeek.com/164981/how-to-use-nslookup-to-check-domain-name-information-in-microsoft-windows/

Dynamic disk is a technology that allows an administrator to build a software RAID on a Windows server. Dynamic disk is a type of disk management that supports creating volumes that span multiple disks, stripe data across disks, mirror data between disks, or use parity for fault tolerance. Dynamic disk can be used to create RAID 0 (striping), RAID 1 (mirroring), RAID 5 (striping with parity), or spanned volumes on Windows servers. Logical volume management is a technology that allows creating and resizing logical volumes on Linux servers. GPT (GUID Partition Table) is a standard for defining the partition structure on a disk. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a specification for the interface between the operating system and the firmware. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/school/using-windows-admin-tools-like-a-pro/lesson2/ https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/40702/how-to-manage-and-use-lvm-logical-volume-management-in-ubuntu/ https://www.howtogeek.com/193669/whats-the-difference-between-gpt-and-mbr-when-partitioning-a-drive/https://www.howtogeek.com/56958/htg-explains-how-uefi-will-replace-the-bios/

A port scanner is the tool that would most likely help the analyst determine if the applications are running on a remote server. A port scanner is a software tool that scans a network device for open ports. Ports are logical endpoints for network communication that are associated with specific applications or services. By scanning the ports on a remote server, the analyst can identify what applications or services are running on that server and what protocols they are using. A port scanner can also help detect potential vulnerabilities or misconfigurations on a server.

The server is not joined to the domain is causing the issue. A domain is a logical grouping of computers that share a common directory database and security policy on a network. Active Directory is a Microsoft technology that provides domain services for Windows-based computers. To use Active Directory credentials to log on to a server, the server must be joined to the domain that hosts Active Directory. If the server is not joined to the domain, it will not be able to authenticate with Active Directory and will only accept local accounts for logon. To join a server to a domain, the administrator must have a valid domain account with sufficient privileges and must know the name of the domain controller that hosts Active Directory.

Bollards are an example of a method that is used to prevent motor vehicles from getting too close to building entrances and exits. Bollards are short, sturdy posts that are installed on sidewalks, parking lots, or roads to create physical barriers and control traffic flow. Bollards can be used to protect pedestrians, buildings, or other structures from vehicle collisions or attacks. Bollards can be made of various materials, such as metal, concrete, or plastic, and can be fixed, removable, or retractable.

Faulty memory and incorrectly seated memory are likely causes of the random BSOD conditions on the server. Memory is one of the most common hardware components that can cause BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) errors on Windows systems. BSOD errors occur when the system encounters a fatal error that prevents it from continuing to operate normally. Memory errors can be caused by faulty or incompatible memory modules that have physical defects or manufacturing flaws. Memory errors can also be caused by incorrectly seated memory modules that are not properly inserted or locked into the memory slots on the motherboard. This can result in loose or poor connections between the memory modules and the motherboard.

A Fibre Channel SAN solution is a type of storage area network (SAN) that uses high-speed optical fiber cables to connect servers and storage devices. A SAN allows for hosting data without impacting performance when the data is accessed in real time by multiple users, as it provides fast data transfer rates, low latency, high availability, and scalability12. A local external hard drive (A) would not be suitable for multiple users, as it would limit the accessibility and security of the data. Adding extra memory to the server (B) would not solve the problem of data access performance, as it would not increase the bandwidth or reduce the congestion of the network. Compressing the data © would not improve the performance either, as it would add extraoverhead and complexity to the data processing and retrieval. References: 1 https://www.techradar.com/best/best-cloud-storage 2 https://solutionsreview.com/data-storage/the-best-enterprise-data-storage-solutions/

Load balancing is a technique used to distribute workloads evenly across multiple servers, ensuring no single server is overwhelmed. This is especially important in environments where high availability and reliability are critical, such as when multiple servers are serving the same website. By doing so, load balancing improves the responsiveness and availability of applications or websites.

Load balancing refers to the process of distributing network or application traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server becomes overwhelmed, thereby improving responsiveness and availability of applications or websites. In the scenario described, where four servers are set up to each serve the same website, the concept of load balancing is applied. This setup aims to distribute incoming requests evenly among the servers to maximize speed and capacity utilization while ensuring no one server is overburdened, which can lead to improved overall performance of the website. Options B, C, and D do not accurately describe the scenario of distributing traffic for the same website across multiple servers.

The first thing the administrator should check is whether the server is in the collection that was scheduled to receive the update through SCCM. A collection is a group of resources, such as computers or users, that can be managed as a single entity bySCCM. If the server is not in the collection, it will not receive the update. The other options are less likely to be the cause of the problem, as they would affect other aspects of the server’s functionality besides receiving updates. References: CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives, Domain 5.0: Security, Objective 5.4: Given a scenario, apply patches/updates and validate their installation.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

The external disk arrays being in a degraded state suggests a RAID failure or a communication issue with the storage system.

The quickest and most effective solution is to access the RAID utility software remotely via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to diagnose and potentially rebuild the degraded arrays.

This avoids unnecessary downtime and delays caused by traveling to the site before attempting remote troubleshooting.

If the RAID utility shows disk failures, the technician can coordinate with on-site staff for further action, such as replacing failed drives or performing additional recovery steps.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requires the use of two or more different authentication factors to verify a user’s identity. The three main authentication factors are:

Something You Know – Password, PIN, security questions

Something You Have – Smart card, key fob, RFID chip

Something You Are – Biometrics such as fingerprint, retina scan

Option C (RFID chip and PIN code) meets the MFA requirement because:

RFID chip (Something You Have) provides a physical security token.

PIN code (Something You Know) adds a knowledge-based authentication factor.

Other Options:

A. Retinal scan and fingerprint reader: Both are biometric factors (Something You Are) and do not satisfy MFA requirements, which need at least two different categories.

B. Key fob and employee badge: Both are physical items (Something You Have), failing to meet MFA requirements.

D. An alphanumeric, case-sensitive password with symbols: This only represents Something You Know, not MFA.

Thus, RFID chip and PIN code (Option C) provides two separate authentication factors and meets the MFA policy requirements.

Comprehensive Detailed Explanation with all CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 Study Guide References:Data Loss Prevention (DLP)policies are designed to prevent sensitive data from being copied, moved, or accessed in unauthorized ways. In this scenario, the DLP system is likely configured to block file transfers from the server to external storage devices, such as USB drives, while still allowing local file creation or movement.

HIDS (Host-Based Intrusion Detection System):Monitors system activities for malicious behavior but does not block file transfers.

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management):Provides centralized monitoring and analysis of security events but does not directly enforce file transfer restrictions.

ACL (Access Control List):Manages permissions but does not control data transfer policies.

Network Installation: Allows the OS image to be deployed from a central server, streamlining deployment across multiple systems simultaneously. This is significantly faster than individual installations from other media. (CompTIA Server+ Objectives SK0-004: 3.1)

Why other options are less optimal:

Embedded: Refers to OSes pre-installed on hardware and not intended for mass deployment.

Optical (CDs/DVDs): Requires physical media insertion on each server, slower than network distribution.

USB Similar to optical, requires individual installations and can be time-consuming for multiple servers.

When new RAID controllers are installed and disks go missing, the first logical step is toreboot to the RAID controller BIOS and rescan for attached disks and arrays (Answer A). This will allow the RAID controller to detect the connected drives and rebuild the RAID configuration as expected.

Rebooting to RAID controller BIOS (Answer A):This step ensures that all the attached disks and arrays are properly detected and mapped to the RAID configuration.

Checking UEFI settings (Option B):This might be useful later, but initially, the RAID controller BIOS should be checked first to verify disk detection.

Turning off external arrays (Option C):While this could be helpful in some scenarios, it's not the most efficient first step.

Checking cables (Option D):This could be necessary, but since the controllers were just replaced, software/BIOS configurations should be checked first.

CompTIA Server+ Reference:This topic relates toSK0-005 Objective 3.1: Install and configure server components.

A cold site is a backup facility with little or no hardware equipment installed. A cold site is the most cost-effective option among the three disaster recovery sites. However, due to the fact that a cold site doesn’t have any pre-installed equipment, it takes a lot of time to properly set it up so as to fully resume business operations1.

References = 1: Disaster Recovery Sites Comparison: Which one to Choose? - NAKIVO(https://www.nakivo.com/blog/overview-disaster-recovery-sites/)

Comprehensive Detailed Explanation with all CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 Study Guide References:Event logsare the primary source for tracking server reboots and other system events. Logs such as the system log in Linux (/var/log/syslog or /var/log/messages) or the Event Viewer in Windows provide timestamps and details about shutdowns, restarts, and boot processes. Regular monitoring ensures that unplanned reboots or system errors are identified and addressed.

Uptime:Indicates how long the server has been running since the last reboot but does not provide detailed reboot evidence.

IOPS:Refers to input/output operations per second, unrelated to reboots.

CPU utilization:Reflects processor activity but offers no reboot evidence.

The first step when addressing an urgent issue like a database disconnection should be to gather information to understand what actions caused the problem.Collecting all logs and reviewing the technician's actions (Answer D)will help identify what went wrong and guide appropriate remediation. Restoring access quickly is the priority, and without reviewing logs, it would be hard to identify the root cause or prevent further damage.

Reverting patches (Option A):Reverting patches might cause more issues if the problem isn't directly related to a recent update.

Reproducing the issue (Option B):Reproduction is useful in a controlled environment but not practical as an immediate first step in production.

Root cause analysis (Option C):This is necessary but should come after restoring access.

Performing a quick backup (Option E):While backups are crucial, this step might not help resolve the current access problem and can delay troubleshooting.

CompTIA Server+ Reference:This topic relates toSK0-005 Objective 3.4: Explain troubleshooting theory and methodologies.