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Free SK0-005 practice test: 30 questions with answers

30 original questions for CompTIA Server+, drawn from every topic area. Answer each one to see whether you got it right and why. No sign-up.

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100 questions
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SK0-005 exam guide: topics, cost and format

All 30 SK0-005 questions with answers

The same questions as the test above, grouped by exam topic. Open any question to see the answer and explanation.

Server Administration (8 questions)

  1. Question 1

    A server administrator needs to add a new user to a Linux server with a specific home directory and a default shell. Which command is appropriate?

    1. Aping -c 4 -W 2 -s 1400 gateway01
    2. Buseradd with -m and -s options
    3. Cpasswd -n 7 -x 90 jdoe
    4. Ddf -h --output=source,size
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    useradd with -m creates a home directory and -s sets the shell. passwd sets passwords, ping tests reachability, and df reports disk usage.

  2. Question 2

    A Windows server administrator must restrict a file share so that only the finance group has modify permissions. Which permission model should be used?

    1. AAnonymous access enabled on the share so that unauthenticated clients can read
    2. BShare permissions set to Everyone with full control on the finance folder
    3. CNTFS permissions assigned to the finance group with modify rights
    4. DNo permissions set on the folder so access is inherited from the parent folder
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    NTFS permissions assigned to the finance group control access precisely. Everyone with full control, no permissions and anonymous access expose data.

  3. Question 3

    A Linux administrator needs to check which services are listening on network ports on a server. Which command is most appropriate?

    1. Ass -tulpn
    2. Bclear
    3. Ccat /etc/passwd
    4. Duptime
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    ss -tulpn lists listening TCP and UDP sockets with their processes. The passwd file lists users, uptime shows load, and clear clears the terminal.

  4. Question 4

    A server must synchronize its clock with an authoritative time source to keep logs and Kerberos authentication correct. Which service should be configured?

    1. AA manual clock setting adjusted once a year by staff
    2. BA timer that resets the local clock daily at boot
    3. CTime taken from the user's personal laptop over Wi-Fi with no sync
    4. DNTP or Windows Time synchronized to a trusted source
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    Accurate time sync with NTP or Windows Time is required for logs and Kerberos. Yearly manual setting, laptop time and daily resets cause clock skew.

  5. Question 5

    A Linux server must run a service at boot and restart it automatically if it crashes. Which tool manages this behaviour on systemd-based systems?

    1. Agzip compresses log files to save disk space on this host
    2. Bcrontab schedules recurring jobs at fixed intervals
    3. Csystemctl enable and a restart policy in the service unit
    4. Dfdisk manages disk partition tables on block devices
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    systemctl enable configures start at boot, and restart policies in the unit handle crashes. Crontab runs scheduled jobs, fdisk manages partitions, and gzip compresses files.

  6. Question 6

    A Windows administrator must deploy a role and its features to a server remotely using PowerShell. Which cmdlet is most suitable?

    1. AInstall-WindowsFeature
    2. BGet-Content -Path C:\Logs
    3. CClear-Host -ErrorAction Stop
    4. DGet-Process -Name explorer
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Install-WindowsFeature installs server roles and features. Get-Process lists processes, Clear-Host clears the screen, and Get-Content reads files.

  7. Question 7

    A server administrator must ensure that log files do not fill the system disk. Which practice addresses this?

    1. ADelete logs manually once a year from the server after the audit is closed
    2. BDisable logging entirely on every host to conserve storage for application data
    3. CStore logs on the system drive with no size limits or retention policy in place
    4. DConfigure log rotation with retention limits and archive older logs
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    Log rotation with retention and archiving controls growth while keeping history. Disabling logs, unlimited growth and annual deletion create risk.

  8. Question 8

    A server must be configured with a static IP address on Linux using a network configuration managed by the system. Which step is correct?

    1. AAdd the address to a log file under /var/log and restart the logging daemon so the static address takes effect immediately
    2. BSet the address in the network configuration file or with the network manager tool and apply the change
    3. CUse DHCP with no manual settings and let the server lease a permanent address from the scope configured for it
    4. DEdit the address in the browser of the management web console on the server's login page
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    Network configuration files or the network manager apply static addresses. Browser edits, log files and DHCP-only settings do not configure a static address.

Server Hardware Installation and Management (8 questions)

  1. Question 9

    A technician is installing a server that must remain available if one power supply fails. Which feature should be specified?

    1. AA power strip with surge protection only
    2. BRedundant hot-swappable power supplies
    3. CA single larger power supply
    4. DA UPS with no server PSU redundancy
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    Redundant hot-swappable power supplies keep the server running if one fails and allow replacement without downtime. A single supply, a UPS alone and surge protection do not provide PSU redundancy.

  2. Question 10

    A server rack has high temperatures at the rear of the cabinets. Which practice improves cooling efficiency?

    1. APlacing a space heater near the rack intake vent to warm supply air
    2. BBlocking airflow with solid front and rear doors on the cabinet frame
    3. CStacking servers in the rack with no spacing between chassis units
    4. DHot aisle and cold aisle containment with blanking panels
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    Aisle containment and blanking panels direct airflow and prevent hot air recirculation. Blocking airflow, dense stacking without spacing and heaters worsen temperatures.

  3. Question 11

    A new server must boot from a RAID array with a controller that presents the array as a single disk. Which component manages the RAID configuration in the BIOS or UEFI settings?

    1. AThe optical drive
    2. BThe network interface card
    3. CThe RAID controller
    4. DThe keyboard controller
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    The RAID controller manages arrays and presents them to the OS. NICs, keyboard controllers and optical drives do not manage RAID.

  4. Question 12

    A server administrator wants to add memory and must ensure compatibility. Which memory type should be verified against the motherboard specification?

    1. AECC registered DIMM type supported by the platform
    2. BUSB flash drive used as extra system memory
    3. CGraphics memory for the discrete GPU board
    4. DLaptop SODIMM module rated 1.2V for rack use
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Server platforms require specific ECC and registered memory types. Laptop modules, graphics memory and USB flash are incompatible.

  5. Question 13

    A technician must replace a failed hard drive in a RAID 5 array while the server is running. Which feature allows this without downtime?

    1. AHot-swap drive bays with a rebuild after insertion
    2. BPowering off the host server before swapping the drive bays
    3. CRemoving the RAID controller card from the backplane first
    4. DReplacing the entire server chassis with a spare unit
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Hot-swap bays allow drive replacement while running, and the array rebuilds. Powering off, replacing the server and removing the controller are unnecessary disruptions.

  6. Question 14

    A server requires a firmware update to fix a known issue. Which step should be done before starting the update?

    1. AUpdate firmware on every node in the cluster simultaneously without testing it in a staging environment
    2. BStart the update during the busiest hour of the business day on production
    3. CSkip backups because firmware updates are generally safe and reversible
    4. DBack up the current configuration and verify the update's compatibility and rollback path
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    A configuration backup, compatibility check and rollback path reduce risk. Busy-hour updates, skipped backups and untested mass updates cause outages.

  7. Question 15

    A server reports a correctable memory error several times a week. Which action is most appropriate?

    1. AIgnore correctable errors because the system still runs and the error log can be cleared at reboot each time
    2. BMonitor the error trend and schedule replacement if errors increase or become uncorrectable
    3. COverclock the memory modules beyond vendor limits to clear the error counters in firmware and BMC logs
    4. DRemove the memory module from the server without documenting the slot, serial number, or the error history
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    Rising correctable errors often indicate failing memory and should be monitored, with replacement planned. Ignoring them, overclocking and unrecorded removal increase risk.

  8. Question 16

    A data centre team must install servers into racks with correct weight distribution and cable management. Which practice should be followed?

    1. APlace heavier equipment lower in the rack and route cables to keep airflow clear
    2. BLeave the rack's front and rear doors open during the entire maintenance window period
    3. CTangle power and network cables together behind the rails to save rack space and bundle them
    4. DPlace the heaviest equipment at the top of the rack above the lightest switches and patch panels
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Heavier equipment at the bottom improves stability, and organized cabling supports airflow. Top-heavy racks, tangled cables and open doors create hazards and heat problems.

Troubleshooting (7 questions)

  1. Question 17

    Which TWO are common causes of a server failing to boot? (Choose two.)

    1. AA good network cable connected to the NIC
    2. BA laptop battery that is fully charged
    3. CA missing or corrupted boot device
    4. DAn incorrect boot order in the firmware settings
    5. EThe correct date and time set in the firmware
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C, D

    A missing boot device and incorrect boot order prevent boot. A good network cable, correct time and unrelated laptop batteries do not stop a server from booting.

  2. Question 18

    Which TWO are good first steps when a server shows high CPU usage? (Choose two.)

    1. ADelete the operating system to reset the load
    2. BDisable all monitoring to stop the alerts
    3. CIdentify the processes consuming the most CPU
    4. DReview recent changes such as updates or new services
    5. EImmediately power off the server without investigation
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C, D

    Identifying the heavy processes and reviewing recent changes narrow the cause. Power-off without investigation, deleting the OS and disabling monitoring do not troubleshoot the issue.

  3. Question 19

    A server intermittently drops connections to clients. The network team reports no errors on the switch port. Which check should the server administrator perform first?

    1. AChange the server's desktop wallpaper to a higher-resolution image
    2. BReview the server NIC's error counters and driver or firmware version
    3. CRestart the printer spooler and clear stalled jobs in the queue
    4. DReplace the server's monitor and graphics card with a newer display model
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    NIC error counters and driver issues are common causes of intermittent drops on the server side. Monitors, wallpapers and printers are unrelated to network connectivity.

  4. Question 20

    A server's disk usage has grown rapidly, and the system is running out of space. Which command helps identify the directories consuming the most space on Linux?

    1. Ahostname to display the server's network name for DNS
    2. Bdu with sorting to find the largest directories
    3. Cuptime to show the load average and CPU
    4. Dls -l on the root directory without recursive listing
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    du with sorting identifies the largest directories consuming space. ls -l shows only top-level details, uptime shows load, and hostname shows the name.

  5. Question 21

    A Windows server fails to start a service after a patch. The event log shows a dependency failure. What should the administrator check first?

    1. AThe service's dependencies and their startup state in the service configuration
    2. BThe keyboard layout and regional input language settings on the console
    3. CThe server's desktop theme and wallpaper colour scheme for the console
    4. DThe printer's ink level and toner cartridge status on the print server
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Checking dependencies and their startup states identifies the failed component. Themes, keyboard layouts and ink levels are unrelated.

  6. Question 22

    A server's application reports slow database queries. The database server's CPU is normal, but disk latency is high. What is the most likely cause?

    1. AToo many open browser tabs running on the admin workstation
    2. BA storage bottleneck, such as a failing drive or saturated RAID array
    3. CInsufficient keyboard input from the admin console session
    4. DThe application's colour theme and the menu layout settings
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    High disk latency with normal CPU points to the storage subsystem. Keyboard input, themes and browser tabs do not affect database disk latency.

  7. Question 23

    A server reports that it has lost one of its redundant power supplies. The server continues to run. What is the most appropriate action?

    1. AShut down the server immediately without planning
    2. BRemove the other power supply to rebalance the load
    3. CIgnore the alert because the server is still up
    4. DReplace the failed power supply soon to restore redundancy
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    A failed redundant PSU leaves the server without redundancy, so replacement should be scheduled promptly. Ignoring it risks an outage, immediate shutdown is disruptive, and removing the other supply causes downtime.

Security and Disaster Recovery (7 questions)

  1. Question 24

    Which TWO are valid ways to protect server data against loss? (Choose two.)

    1. AStoring all data on one disk with no copies
    2. BRegular, tested backups stored off-site
    3. CRAID combined with a separate backup copy
    4. DDisabling backups to save space
    5. EKeeping backups only on the same server
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B, C

    Off-site, tested backups and RAID combined with separate backups protect against different failures. RAID alone is not a backup, and single-disk, disabled and same-server copies do not protect data.

  2. Question 25

    Which THREE are part of a server disaster recovery plan? (Choose three.)

    1. ARecovery time and recovery point objectives
    2. BRemoving backups after each successful restore
    3. CKeeping the recovery plan in one person's memory
    4. DDocumented restore procedures tested on a schedule
    5. EOff-site copies of backups
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A, D, E

    Objectives, tested procedures and off-site copies are core elements of recovery planning. Undocumented memory-only plans and deleting backups after restore are not sound practices.

  3. Question 26

    Which TWO are good server hardening practices? (Choose two.)

    1. ADisable unused services and ports
    2. BAllow root login over the internet
    3. CKeep default passwords for convenience
    4. DDisable security updates to avoid restarts
    5. EApply least privilege to user and service accounts
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A, E

    Disabling unused services and applying least privilege reduce attack surface. Default passwords, internet root login and disabled updates weaken the server.

  4. Question 27

    A server administrator must make sure that backup data cannot be altered by ransomware on the production network. Which approach provides the strongest protection?

    1. ABackups on a mapped drive writable by domain users
    2. BBackups deleted after each weekly cycle once the next full copy is verified
    3. CImmutable or air-gapped backup copies with restricted access
    4. DBackups stored on the production server's local volume
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Immutable or air-gapped copies with restricted access resist ransomware. Writable mapped drives, production-only copies and weekly deletion do not protect backups.

  5. Question 28

    A business requires that a server's data be encrypted when it leaves the data centre on a backup tape. Which control applies?

    1. AEncryption of the backup media or data before shipment, with keys managed separately
    2. BSharing the key in the tape label and emailing a copy of the label to the offsite vault manager
    3. CStoring the decryption key on the tape cartridge alongside the encrypted data
    4. DShipping unencrypted tapes in a sealed box with a plain-text inventory list attached
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Encrypting backups with separately managed keys protects data in transit. Unencrypted tapes, keys on labels and keys on tapes expose the data.

  6. Question 29

    A security audit finds that a server has accounts that have not been used in a year. Which action best reduces risk?

    1. ADisable or remove the unused accounts after confirming with the owners
    2. BShare the passwords of the unused accounts with the help desk and the vendor
    3. CLeave the accounts active in case they are needed later
    4. DMake the accounts members of the local Administrators group for convenience
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Disabling or removing unused accounts reduces attack surface after verification. Leaving them active, sharing passwords and elevating them increase risk.

  7. Question 30

    A server must send security events to a central log collector in real time for correlation. Which practice is recommended?

    1. AForward logs using a secure transport such as TLS-encrypted syslog to the central collector
    2. BEmail compressed log archives to an administrator mailbox once per calendar year
    3. CRetain logs on the local disk and overwrite them after seven days of log rotation
    4. DPrint logs and file the hardcopy printouts in a binder in the server room
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Secure forwarding to a central collector enables real-time correlation. Local-only storage, annual email and printed logs are not timely or useful for correlation.