SK0-005 Exam Dumps - CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam

RTO (Recovery Time Objective) is a metric that measures how much downtime an organization can tolerate during an unplanned outage before it affects its business continuity and reputation. RTO is usually expressed in hours or minutes and is determined by the criticality of the business processes and the impact of the outage on the revenue, customers, and stakeholders. RTO helps to define the recovery strategy and the resources needed to restore the normal operations as quickly as possible. Verified References: [RTO vs RPO]

To comply with the user requirements, the best options are to install the OS on a RAID 1 array, configure RAID 5 for the application data, and use SSD hard drives for the data application array. Here is why:

• RAID 1 is a mirroring technique that creates an exact copy of data on two disks. This provides redundancy and fault tolerance in case of hard drive failure. RAID 1 also improves read performance since either disk can be read at the same time. Therefore, installing the OS on a RAID 1 array meets the first requirement of separating the OS from the application data and protecting it from hard drive failure.
• RAID 5 is a striping technique with parity that distributes data and parity blocks across three or more disks. This provides improved performance and storage efficiency compared to RAID 1, as well as fault tolerance in case of a single disk failure. Therefore, configuring RAID 5 for the application data meets the second and third requirements of providing high IOPS performance and data availability.
• SSD hard drives are solid-state drives that use flash memory to store data. They have no moving parts and offer faster read and write speeds, lower latency, and lower power consumption than traditional HDDs. Therefore, using SSD hard drives for the data application array meets the second requirement of providing high IOPS performance.

References:

• https://phoenixnap.com/kb/raid-levels-and-types
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels

The best disk type for a high-performance financial application is a SAS SSD. A SAS SSD (Serial Attached SCSI Solid State Drive) is a type of storage device that uses flash memory chips to store data and has a SAS interface to connect to a server or a storage array. A SAS SSD offers high speed, low latency, high reliability, and high durability compared to other types of disks, such as SATA SSDs, SAS HDDs, or SATA HDDs. A SAS SSD can handle high I/O workloads and deliver consistent performance for applications that require fast data access and processing.

The technician should check the hardware compatibility list (HCL) first to see if the new NIC is supported by the server’s operating system. The HCL is a list of hardware devices that have been tested and verified to work with a specific operating system. If the NIC is not on the HCL, it means that there is no device driver available or compatible for it, and the NIC will not function properly.

References: CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 5, Lesson 5.2, Objective 5.2

The best way to limit an attacker from exploiting a zero-day vulnerability that is impacting a service enabled on a server OS is to install the latest patches. Patches are updates that fix bugs, improve security, or add features to software. Installing patches can help prevent attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities that have been fixed by the software vendor. A zero-day vulnerability is a vulnerability that is unknown to the vendor or the public until it is exploited by an attacker. Therefore, installing patches as soon as they are available can reduce the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit zero-day vulnerabilities. Reference: https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/patch-management

These are two measures that should be taken when a data breach occurs. A data breach is an unauthorized or illegal access to confidential or sensitive data by an internal or external actor. A data breach can result in financial losses, reputational damage, legal liabilities, and regulatory penalties for the affected organization. Disclosing the incident is a measure that involves informing the relevant stakeholders, such as customers, employees, partners, regulators, and law enforcement, about the nature, scope, and impact of the data breach. Disclosing the incident can help to mitigate the negative consequences of the data breach, comply with legal obligations, and restore trust and confidence. Identifying the exploited vulnerability is a measure that involves investigating and analyzing the root cause and source of the data breach. Identifying the exploited vulnerability can help to prevent further data loss, remediate the security gaps, and improve the security posture of the organization. Restoring the data from backup is a measure that involves recovering the lost or corrupted data from a secondary storage device or location. However, this does not address the underlying issue of how the data breach occurred or prevent future breaches. Disabling unnecessary ports is a measure that involves closing or blocking network communication endpoints that are not required for legitimate purposes. However, this does not address how the data breach occurred or what vulnerability was exploited. Running an antivirus scan is a measure that involves detecting and removing malicious software from a system or network. However, this does not address how the data breach occurred or what vulnerability was exploited. Moving the data to a different location is a measure that involves transferring the data to another storage device or location that may be more secure or less accessible. However, this does not address how the data breach occurred or what vulnerability was exploited. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/428483/what-is-end-to-end-encryption-and-why-does-it-matter/ https://www.howtogeek.com/202794/what-is-the-difference-between-127.0.0.1-and-0.0.0.0/ https://www.howtogeek.com/443611/how-to-encrypt-your-macs-system-drive-removable-devices-and-individual-files/

The best solutions to resolve the concern of transmissions from the building being detected from outside are signal blocking and reflective glass. Signal blocking is a method of preventing or interfering with electromagnetic signals from escaping or entering a certain area. Signal blocking can be achieved by using various materials or devices that create physical barriers or generate noise or jamming signals. Signal blocking can protect data transmissions from being intercepted or eavesdropped by unauthorized parties. Reflective glass is a type of glass that has a coating or film that reflects light and heat. Reflective glass can reduce glare and solar radiation, as well as prevent visual observation from outside. Reflective glass can enhance privacy and security for datacenter operations.

A DR site is a backup site that can be used to restore business operations in case of a disaster that affects the primary site. A warm site is a DR site that has some equipment and data ready to be activated quickly, but not as fast as a hot site that has fully operational systems and data. A cold site is a DR site that has only basic infrastructure and no equipment or data. The location of a DR site is an important factor to consider when designing and implementing a DR plan. A DR site that is too close to the primary site may be affected by the same disaster, such as a power outage, a flood, or an earthquake. A DR site that is too far away from the primary site may incur higher costs and latency issues. Therefore, a good practice is to set up a DR site that is geographically located in another region that has different risk factors and environmental conditions than the primary site. This can help ensure that the DR site is available and accessible when needed. References: https://www.comptia.org/training/resources/exam-objectives/comptia-server-sk0-005-exam-objectives (Objective 3.3)

A differential backup is a type of backup that copies all the files that have changed since the last full backup. A differential backup requires more storage space than an incremental backup, which only copies the files that have changed since the last backup of any type, but it also requires less time to restore in case of data loss. By combining a full, weekly backup with daily differential backups, the administrator can ensure that only two backup sets are needed to restore a full backup as quickly as possible. Verified References: [Incremental vs Differential Backup]

The technician should install the Type 1 hypervisor on a SAS drive. A Type 1 hypervisor is a layer of software that runs directly on top of the physical hardware and creates virtual machines that share the hardware resources. A Type 1 hypervisor requires fast and reliable storage for optimal performance and stability. A SAS drive is a type of hard disk drive that uses Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) as its interface protocol. SAS drives offer high speed, low latency, and high reliability compared to other types of drives, such as SD cards, NAS drives, or SATA drives. SD cards are flash memory cards that offer low cost and portability but have low speed, low capacity, and low durability. NAS drives are network-attached storage devices that offer high capacity and easy access but have high latency and low reliability due to network dependency. SATA drives are hard disk drives that use Serial ATA (SATA) as their interface protocol. SATA drives offer moderate speed, moderate cost, and moderate reliability but have lower performance and durability than SAS drives.

The /etc/fstab file contains the information about the file systems that are mounted automatically at boot time or on demand. The entry nfsserver:/home /home nfs defaults 0 0 indicates that the /home directory on the local server is mounted from the /home directory on a remote server called nfsserver using the NFS protocol. However, the df -h /home command shows that the /home directory is actually mounted from a local partition /dev/sda2, which may not contain the user’s files. This means that the NFS mount failed or was overridden by another mount. To resolve the issue, the technician should attempt to unmount the local partition using umount nfsserver:/home, which will detach the /home directory from /dev/sda2. Then, the technician should try to mount the NFS share again using mount /home, which will attach the /home directory to nfsserver:/home according to the /etc/fstab entry12. Creating a new directory (A) or removing an existing one © would not help, as they would not affect the mount point. Mounting /home (D) without unmounting it first would not work, as it would result in an error that the mount point is busy3. References: 1 https://askubuntu.com/questions/37487 0/home-directory-not-being-created 2 https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-properly-automount-a-drive-in-ubuntu-linux/  3 https://serverfault.com/questions/587855/cannot-find-home-directory-on-linux-server

This is the best solution to increase the speed of the NIC because link aggregation is a technique that combines multiple physical network interfaces into a single logical interface. This can increase the bandwidth, redundancy, and load balancing of network traffic. Link aggregation requires both the server and the switch to support it and be configured accordingly. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/lan-switching/etherchannel/12023-4.html

Link aggregation is the best option to implement on the new server to ensure the least amount of network downtime but a good amount of network speed. Link aggregation is a technique of combining multiple physical network interfaces into one logical interface to increase bandwidth, redundancy, and load balancing. Link aggregation can improve the performance and availability of the server by allowing it to use more than one network path for data transmission and failover in case of link failure. Link aggregation can be implemented using various protocols, such as IEEE 802.3ad (LACP), Cisco EtherChannel, or Linux bonding. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 4.0: Networking, Objective 4.1: Given a scenario, configure network settings for servers.

Cloud software licensing refers to the process of managing and storing software licenses in the cloud. The benefits of cloud software licensing models are vast. The main and most attractive benefit has to do with the ease of use for software vendors and the ability to provide customizable cloud software license management based on customer needs and desires1. Cloud-based licensing gives software developers and vendors the opportunity to deliver software easily and quickly and gives customers full control over their licenses, their analytics, and more1. Cloud based licensing gives software sellers the ability to add subscription models to their roster of services1. Subscription models are one of the most popular forms of licensing today1. Users sign up for a subscription (often based on various options and levels of use, features, etc.) and receive their licenses instantly1. References: 1 Everything You Need to Know about Cloud Licensing | Thales

The most likely cause of this issue is that the printer had DHCP enabled, which changed its IP address after adding it to the print server and configuring it on each user’s machine. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a network protocol that assigns IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices automatically, without manual intervention. DHCP can simplify network management and avoid IP conflicts, but it can also cause problems if the devices are not configured to use static or reserved IP addresses. If the printer had DHCP enabled, it might have received a different IP address from the DHCP server after rebooting or reconnecting to the network, which would make it unreachable by the print server and the users’ machines that were configured with the previous IP address. Scanning to email would still work, as it does not depend on the print server or the users’ machines, but on the printer’s SMTP settings and internet connection. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 4.0: Networking, Objective 4.l: Given a scenario, configure network settings for servers.

A rack layout is a document that shows the physical location and arrangement of servers and other devices within a rack. It can include information such as server names, IP addresses, power consumption, and cable connections. A rack layout can help identify and locate servers easily and efficiently in a data center. Verified References: [Rack layout], [Data center]

Insider threat is the most likely system vulnerability in a company that deploys antivirus, anti-malware, and firewalls that can be assumed to be functioning properly. An insider threat is a malicious or negligent act by an authorized user of a system or network that compromises the security or integrity of the system or network. An insider threat can include data theft, sabotage, espionage, fraud, or other types of attacks. Antivirus, anti-malware, and firewalls are security tools that can protect a system or network from external threats, such as viruses, worms, ransomware, or open ports. However, these tools cannot prevent an insider threat from exploiting their access privileges or credentials to harm the system or network.

The server installation method that would optimize server resources is core. Core is a minimal installation option that is available for some operating systems, such as Windows Server and Linux. Core installs only the essential components and features of the operating system, without any graphical user interface (GUI) or other unnecessary services or applications. Core reduces the disk footprint, memory usage, CPU consumption, and attack surface of the server, making it more efficient and secure. Core can be managed remotely using command-line tools, PowerShell, or GUI tools.

A misconfigured NIC on the server is the most likely reason for the lack of network connectivity. The output of the ping command shows that the server is unable to reach its default gateway (10.0.0.1) or any other IP address on the network. The output of the ipconfig command shows that the server has a valid IP address (10.0.0.10) and subnet mask (255.255.255.0) but no default gateway configured. This indicates that there is a problem with the NIC settings on the server, such as an incorrect IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, DNS server, etc. A misconfigured NIC can also cause an amber link light on the switch port, which indicates a speed or duplex mismatch between the NIC and the switch.

To enable a user to both read and write to a file, the administrator needs to provide "modify" rights. This permission level allows the user not only to open and view the file (read) but also to make changes and save those changes back to the file (write). "Read and execute" rights would allow the user to open and run the file but not make any changes. "List folder contents" rights would enable the user to view the files within a folder but not make changes to them. "Full control" rights would provide the user with complete control over the file, including the ability to change permissions and delete the file, which exceeds the principle of least-privilege access necessary for this task.

 Application consistent backup is a method of backing up data that ensures the integrity and consistency of the application state. It involves notifying the application to flush its data from memory to disk and quiescing any write operations before taking a snapshot of the data. If the databases were not backed up to be application consistent, they might contain incomplete or corrupted data that cannot be restored properly.

References:

CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives1, page 12

What is Application Consistent Backup and How to Achieve It2

Application-Consistent Backups3

The backup type that only records changes to the data blocks on a virtual machine is snapshot. A snapshot is a point-in-time copy of a virtual machine (VM) that captures the state and data of the VM at a specific moment. A snapshot can be created instantly and with minimal overhead, as it only stores the changes made to the VM after the snapshot was taken. A snapshot can be used to restore the VM to its previous state in case of data loss or corruption.

The technician should install the heaviest server at the bottom of the rack to load the rack properly. Installing the heaviest server at the bottom of the rack helps to balance the weight distribution and prevent the rack from tipping over or collapsing. Installing the heaviest server at the bottom of the rack also makes it easier to access and service the server without lifting or moving it. Installing the heaviest server at any other position in the rack could create instability and safety hazards.

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 headless installation is an installation method that does not require a graphical user interface (GUI) or a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It can be done remotely through a network connection or a command-line interface. A headless installation is suitable for a server that has limited resources and does not need a GUI.

References:

• CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives1, page 14
• Server Management: Server Hardware Installation and Management2, Module 2, Lesson 5

SSH stands for Secure Shell and it is a network protocol that provides encrypted and authenticated communication between two hosts. SSH can be used to remotely access and administer a server using a command-line interface or a graphical user interface. SSH can ensure the encryption of all server administration traffic, which can prevent eavesdropping, tampering, or spoofing by unauthorized parties. References: https://www.comptia.org/training/resources/exam-objectives/comptia-server-sk0-005-exam-objectives (Objective 2.4)

Encryption at rest is a type of encryption methodology that would most likely be used to ensure encrypted data cannot be retrieved if a device is stolen. Encryption at rest is a process of encrypting stored data on a device such as a hard drive, SSD, USB flash drive, or mobile device. This way, if the device is lost or stolen, the data cannot be accessed without the encryption key or password. Encryption at rest can be implemented using software tools such as BitLocker on Windows or FileVault on Mac OS, or hardware features such as self-encrypting drives or Trusted Platform Module chips. End-to-end encryption is a type of encryption methodology that ensures encrypted data cannot be intercepted or modified by third parties during transmission over a network. Encryption in transit is a type of encryption methodology that protects encrypted data while it is moving from one location to another over a network. Public key encryption is a type of encryption algorithm that uses a pair of keys: a public key that can be shared with anyone and a private key that is kept secret by the owner. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/196541/bitlocker-101-what-it-is-how-it-works-and-how-to-use-it/ https://www.howtogeek.com/443611/how-to-encrypt-your-macs-system-drive-removable-devices-and-individual-files/ https://www.howtogeek.com/428483/what-is-end-to-end-encryption-and-why-does-it-matter/ https://www.howtogeek.com/195877/what-is-encryption-and-how-does-it-work/

Deploying a virtual machine from a template creates a virtual machine that is a copy of the template. The new virtual machine has the virtual hardware, installed software, and other properties that are configured for the template.

The most important piece of information needed by the legal department in the event that an employee does not return company-issued equipment is the asset tag. The asset tag is a unique identifier that is used to track assets throughout their lifecycle. It allows the company to keep precise records of the assets, monitor their location, and manage their overall inventory. In legal situations, the asset tag can be used to prove ownership and aid in the recovery process of the equipment. The serial number is also important, but it is the asset tag that ties the equipment directly to the company's asset management system and is therefore the most crucial for the legal department. Warranty and labeling information are less critical from a legal perspective when it comes to unreturned equipment.

Uplink redundancy is a method used to ensure that if one physical network interface card (NIC) fails, the network connectivity for the virtual machines (VMs) does not go down. This is typically achieved by configuring multiple NICs to connect to a single virtual switch (vSwitch) and setting up NIC teaming or bonding. The vSwitch manages the internal network traffic between the VMs and the outside network by using the physical NICs assigned to it. By configuring the vSwitch with multiple NICs, you can create redundancy, so if one NIC fails, the other NICs can take over the traffic, ensuring continuous network connectivity.

Components of a Data Loss Solution

The command that the administrator should issue to configure MySQL successfully is setenforce 0. This command sets the SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) mode to permissive, which means that SELinux will not enforce its security policies and will only log any violations. SELinux is a feature that provides mandatory access control (MAC) for Linux systems, which can enhance the security and prevent unauthorized access or modification of files and processes. However, SELinux can also interfere with some applications or services that require specific permissions or ports that are not allowed by SELinux by default. In this case, MySQL may not be able to run properly due to SELinux restrictions. To resolve this issue, the administrator can either disable SELinux temporarily by using setenforce 0, or permanently by editing the /etc/selinux/config file and setting SELINUX=disabled. Alternatively, the administrator can configure SELinux to allow MySQL to run by using commands such as semanage or setsebool.

The best way to meet this requirement is to create a PowerShell script to disable the RDP service on all Windows-based servers within a data center. PowerShell is a scripting language and command-line tool that can be used to automate tasks and manage Windows systems remotely. A PowerShell script can use cmdlets (commands) and parameters to perform actions on multiple servers at once, such as disabling a service or changing a configuration setting. RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is a service that allows remote access and control of a Windows system through a graphical user interface. Disabling RDP can improve security by preventing unauthorized or malicious access to the servers.

References: CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 4, Lesson 4.3, Objective 4.3; Chapter 7, Lesson 7.1, Objective 7.1

The administrator should use 172.16.19.241 as an IP address to be in compliance with RFC 1918 standard. RFC 1918 defines three ranges of IP addresses that are reserved for private internets, meaning they are not globally routable on the public Internet and can be used within an enterprise without any risk of conflict or overlap with other networks. These ranges are:

10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255 (10/8 prefix) 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 (172.16/12 prefix) 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255 (192.168/16 prefix)

Out of these ranges, only 172.16.19.241 falls within one of them (172.16/12 prefix). The other options are either public IP addresses that belong to other organizations or networks (11.251.196.241, 171.245.198.241) or invalid IP addresses that do not conform to any standard (193.168.145.241).

Push notifications are messages that are sent from an application or a service to a user’s device without requiring the user to open or request them. They can be used as a cost-effective technique for implementing MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) on servers by sending verification codes or approval requests to the user’s smartphone or tablet when they try to log in to the server. Verified References: [Push notifications], [MFA]

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a technology that combines multiple hard drives into a logical unit that provides improved performance, reliability, or capacity. RAID can be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of both. Hardware RAID uses a dedicated controller to manage the RAID array, while software RAID uses the operating system or a driver to do the same1.

In this scenario, the technician noted that the RAID hard drives were functional while troubleshooting a motherboard failure. This means that the data on the drives was not corrupted or lost. However, the technician installed a spare motherboard with similar specifications and used the original components. This means that the new motherboard may not have the same RAID configuration as the old one, or it may not recognize the existing RAID array at all. Therefore, the technician needs to reconfigure the RAID in order to restore operations with minimal downtime.

 Explanation: This option would reduce power consumption and maintenance costs by consolidating the physical servers into virtual machines on the hypervisors. This would also free up space and resources in the data center. The other options would either not address the request, increase power consumption, or require more maintenance.

Round robin is an example of load balancing. Load balancing is the method of distributing network traffic equally across a pool of resources that support an application. Load balancing improves application availability, scalability, security, and performance by preventing any single resource from being overloaded or unavailable. Round robin is a simple load balancing algorithm that assigns each incoming request to the next available resource in a circular order. For example, if there are three servers (A, B, C) in a load balancer pool, round robin will send the first request to server A, the second request to server B, the third request to server C, the fourth request to server A again, and so on.

A warranty is a type of asset management documentation that is commonly used as a reference when processing the replacement of a faulty server component. A warranty is a guarantee from the manufacturer or vendor that covers the repair or replacement of defective parts within a specified period of time. A purchase order, a license, or a baseline document are not directly related to the replacement of a faulty server component. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 1.0: Server Architecture, Objective 1.4: Explain asset management and documentation processes.

The user has likely fallen victim to a phishing scam, which is a fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information, such as passwords, by disguising as a legitimate entity. The link in the email that required the user to change the account password was probably a fake website that mimicked the company’s external database, and captured the user’s credentials when they entered them. This could compromise the security and integrity of the company’s data, as well as the user’s identity and privacy12.

The company should take immediate action to prevent further damage and investigate the incident. The first step is to disable the user’s account and inform the security team. Disabling the user’s account can prevent unauthorized access to the external database by the attackers, who may use the stolen credentials to log in and manipulate or steal data. Informing the security team can alert them of the breach and allow them to take appropriate measures, such as scanning for malware, changing passwords, notifying other users, and reporting the incident34.

The administrator should use the command chmod 754 /home/Ann to resolve the issue without granting unnecessary permissions. The chmod command is used to change the permissions of files and directories on a Linux server. The permissions are represented by three numbers, each ranging from 0 to 7, that correspond to the read ®, write (w), and execute (x) permissions for the owner, group, and others respectively. The numbers are calculated by adding up the values of each permission: r = 4, w = 2, x = 1. For example, 7 means rwx (4 + 2 + 1), 6 means rw- (4 + 2), 5 means r-x (4 + 1), etc. In this case, Ann’s home directory has the permissions dr-xr-xr–, which means that only the owner (d) can read ® and execute (x) the directory, and the group and others can only read ® and execute (x) but not write (w) to it. This prevents Ann from saving files to her home directory. To fix this issue, the administrator should grant write permission to the owner by using chmod 754 /home/Ann, which means that the owner can read ®, write (w), and execute (x) the directory, the group can read ® and execute (x) but not write (w) to it, and others can only read ® but not write (w) or execute (x) it. This way, Ann can save files to her home directory without giving unnecessary permissions to others.

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and it is a network protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices on a network. DHCP can help simplify IP configuration without manually adding any IP addresses. DHCP works by using a DHCP server that maintains a pool of available IP addresses and leases them to devices that request them. The devices can renew or release their IP addresses as needed. References: https://www.comptia.org/training/resources/exam-objectives/comptia-server-sk0-005-exam-objectives (Objective 2.1)

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 extra overhead 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/

Password length is the first password policy that the administrator should implement to help mitigate the chance of a successful brute-force attack. A brute-force attack is a method of guessing passwords by trying all possible combinations of characters until the correct one is found. The longer the password, the more combinations there are, and the more time and resources it takes to crack it. Therefore, password length is a key factor in password strength and security.

References: CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 3, Lesson 3.2, Objective 3.2

A tabletop exercise is a type of disaster recovery testing exercise that is primarily used to discuss incident response strategies for critical systems without affecting production data. A tabletop exercise is a discussion-based session where team members meet in an informal, classroom setting to review their roles and responsibilities during an emergency and their responses to a hypothetical scenario. A facilitator guides the participants through the discussion and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the preparedness program. A tabletop exercise does not involve any actual deployment of resources or activation of systems12. A backup recovery test (B) is a type of disaster recovery testing exercise that involves restoring data from backup media to verify its integrity and availability. A backup recovery test may affect production data if it is not performed on a separate environment. A live failover © is a type of disaster recovery testing exercise that involves switching operations from a primary site to a secondary site in case of a failure or disruption. A live failover may affect production data if it is not performed on a simulated environment. A hot-site visit audit (D) is a type of disaster recovery testing exercise that involves inspecting and evaluating a hot site, which is a backup location that has fully operational equipment and resources to resume business operations in case of a disaster. A hot-site visit audit does not involve any discussion of incident response strategies or simulation of scenarios. References: 1 https://www.ready.gov/testing-exercises  2 https://www.ready.gov/exercises

Scope-based authentication is a method of restricting access to resources based on the location, network, or device of the user. It can be used to prevent unauthorized access from outside the organization’s network or from untrusted devices. In this case, the user can connect to the database server from the home office, which is likely within the scope of the authentication policy, but not from the hotel room, which is outside the scope.

References:

CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives1, page 15

CompTIA Server+: Authentication & Authorization2

Changing the boot order on the server and restricting console access would prevent unauthorized access attempts via USB devices at startup, as the server would not boot from any external media and only authorized users could access the console. Setting a BIOS/UEFI password on the server would also help, but it could be bypassed by resetting the CMOS battery or using a backdoor password. Configuring the host OS to deny login attempts via USB would not prevent booting from a malicious USB device that could compromise the system before the OS loads. Disabling all the USB ports on the server would limit functionality, as some peripherals or devices may need to use them. References:

• https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/dont-plug-it-in-how-to-prevent-a-usb-attack
• https://www.techopedia.com/definition/10362/boot-order
• https://www.techopedia.com/definition/10361/console-access
• https://www.techopedia.com/definition/102/bios-password
• https://www.techopedia.com/definition/10363/cmos-battery

Cloud IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) is a service model that allows users to rent virtualized computing resources over the internet, such as servers, storage, network, and software. Cloud IaaS can provide several benefits for disaster recovery and failover scenarios, such as:

• Lower cost: Cloud IaaS can reduce the capital and operational expenses of building and maintaining a physical disaster recovery site, as users only pay for the resources they use on demand12.
• Scalability: Cloud IaaS can offer flexible and elastic scalability of resources, as users can easily provision or deprovision resources according to their needs and workload12.
• Availability: Cloud IaaS can ensure high availability and reliability of the application, as users can leverage the cloud provider’s redundant and geographically distributed infrastructure12.
• Simplicity: Cloud IaaS can simplify the failover process, as users can use the cloud provider’s tools and services to automate and orchestrate the failover operations12.

Therefore, building a cloud IaaS and performing a failover of the application would be the most cost-effective solution for the company, as it would allow them to simulate a failover of a critical application on production configurations and IP address schemes without investing in a physical disaster recovery site.

A hot site is a type of disaster recovery site that has all the equipment and data ready to resume operations as soon as possible after a disaster. A hot site is usually located in a different geographic area than the primary site and has redundant power, cooling, network, and security systems. A hot site is best for the company that wants to recover in the shortest possible time and does not want customer data to egress to non-company equipment. A warm site is a type of disaster recovery site that has some equipment and data ready, but requires some configuration and restoration before resuming operations. A cold site is a type of disaster recovery site that has only basic infrastructure and space available, but requires significant setup and installation before resuming operations. Cloud recovery is a type of disaster recovery service that uses cloud-based resources and platforms to store backups and restore data and applications after a disaster. References: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/11172/hot-site https://www.techopedia.com/definition/11173/warm-site https://www.techopedia.com/definition/11174/cold-site https://www.techopedia.com/definition/29836/cloud-recovery

Teaming is a technique that can be configured on a server for network redundancy. Teaming involves combining two or more network adapters into a single logical unit that acts as one network interface. This way, if one network adapter fails, another one can take over without disrupting network connectivity. Teaming can also improve network performance by load balancing traffic across multiple network adapters. Clustering is a technique that involves grouping two or more servers together to act as one system for high availability and fault tolerance. Virtualizing is a technique that involves creating multiple virtual machines on a single physical server to optimize resource utilization and flexibility. Cloning is a technique that involves creating an exact copy of a server’s configuration and data for backup or migration purposes. References: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/networking/technologies/nic-teaming/nic-teaming https://www.techopedia.com/definition/19588/clustering https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4790/virtualization https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4776/cloning

• 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:

The best course of action to preserve business continuity for a very old PC that is running a critical, proprietary application in MS-DOS is to purchase matching hardware and clone the disk. This way, the technician can create an exact copy of the PC’s configuration and data on another PC that has the same specifications and compatibility. This will ensure that the application can run smoothly on the new PC without any installation or configuration issues. Performing scheduled chkdsk tests would not help, as chkdsk is a tool that checks and repairs disk errors, but does not prevent hardware failures or software compatibility issues. Upgrading the hard disk to SSD would not help either, as SSDs may not be compatible with the old PC or the MS-DOS operating system. Performing quarterly backups would help with data protection, but not with hardware availability or software compatibility. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/199068/how-to-upgrade-your-existing-hard-drive-in-under-an-hour/ https://www.howtogeek.com/66776/how-to-repair-disk-errors-in-windows-7/

Robocopy (Robust File Copy) is a command-line tool in Windows that is designed for reliable copy or mirroring of files, and it can handle a broader range of file names and paths, including those that do not conform to traditional Windows file-naming standards. It's specifically designed to handle complex file copy demands and offers a wide range of options that can be tailored for different scenarios, which makes it suitable for the task mentioned. SCP (Secure Copy Protocol), Drag and Drop, and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) are all methods that can be used to copy files, but they might not handle non-standard Windows file names as well as Robocopy.

A SD card is a type of flash memory card that can be used to store data and run applications. A SD card can be used to install a Type 1 hypervisor on a server, as it provides fast boot time, low power consumption, and high reliability. A Type 1 hypervisor runs directly on the underlying computer’s physical hardware, interacting directly with its CPU, memory, and physical storage. For this reason, Type 1 hypervisors are also referred to as bare-metal hypervisors. A Type 1 hypervisor takes the place of a host operating system and VM resources are scheduled directly to the hardware by the hypervisor123. A NAS drive (B) is a type of network-attached storage (NAS) device that provides shared access to files and data over a network. A NAS drive cannot be used to install a Type 1 hypervisor on a server, as it requires a network connection and a host operating system to function. A SATA drive © is a type of hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD) that uses the Serial ATA (SATA) interface to connect to a computer. A SATA drive can be used to install a Type 1 hypervisor on a server, but it may have some disadvantages compared to a SD card, such as slower boot time, higher power consumption, and lower reliability. A SAS drive (D) is a type of hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD) that uses the Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) interface to connect to a computer. A SAS drive can also be used to install a Type 1 hypervisor on a server, but it may have similar disadvantages as a SATA drive, and it may also be more expensive and less compatible than a SD card. References: 1 https://phoenixnap.com/kb/what-is-hypervisor-type-1-2  2 https://www.ibm. com/topics/hypervisors 3 https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/virtualization/what-is-a-hypervisor

Fault tolerance is the ability of a system to continue functioning in the event of a failure of one or more of its components. Fault tolerance can ensure a secondary network path is available if the primary connection fails. Fault tolerance can be achieved by using redundant components, such as network cards, cables, switches, routers, etc., that can take over the function of the failed component without interrupting the service. References: https://www.comptia.org/training/resources/exam-objectives/comptia-server-sk0-005-exam-objectives (Objective 2.2)

A loop is a programming construct that allows a block of code to be executed repeatedly until a certain condition is met1. A loop can be used to cycle through a list of servers and run a script on each one of them. For example, in Python, a loop can be written as:

Python

This code is AI-generated. Review and use carefully. Visit our FAQ for more information.

Copy

# Assume servers is a list of server names

for server in servers:

# Run the script on the server

run_script(server)

A loop can help automate the task of correcting the misconfiguration on all servers, saving time and effort.

An emergency change request is a type of change management activity that is used to address urgent issues that pose a significant risk to the organization, such as a system breach. An emergency change request requires immediate action and approval, and it may bypass some of the normal change management procedures, such as testing, documentation, or stakeholder communication12.

References = 1: Change Management Plans: A Definitive Guide - Indeed(https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/change-management-activities) 2: The 10 Best Change Management Activities - Connecteam(https://connecteam.com/top-10-change-management-activities/)

chmod is a command-line tool that changes the permissions of files and directories in Linux and Unix systems. chmod go-rwx means to remove read, write, and execute permissions for group and other users from a file or directory. This can ensure only the root user can modify and execute the script, since root user has full access to all files and directories regardless of their permissions. References: https://linux.die.net/man/1/chmod

RAID 6 is a level of RAID that can survive the failure of two drives without the loss of data. RAID 6 uses block-level striping with two parity blocks distributed across all member disks. RAID 6 can tolerate two simultaneous drive failures and still provide data access and redundancy. RAID 0 is a level of RAID that uses striping without parity or mirroring, and offers no fault tolerance. RAID 0 cannot survive any drive failure without data loss. RAID 1 is a level of RAID that uses mirroring without parity or striping, and offers fault tolerance by duplicating data on two or more disks. RAID 1 can survive one drive failure without data loss, but not two. RAID 5 is a level of RAID that uses block-level striping with one parity block distributed across all member disks. RAID 5 can tolerate one drive failure without data loss, but not two. References:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels

Maintenance and support is a type of license that would most likely include vendor assistance. Maintenance and support is a contract that defines the level and scope of service and assistance that a vendor provides to a customer for using their software product. Maintenance and support may include technical support, bug fixes, patches, updates, upgrades, documentation, training, and other benefits. Maintenance and support licenses usually have an annual fee based on the number of users or devices covered by the contract. Open-source is a type of license that allows free access to the source code and modification and distribution of the software product, but does not guarantee vendor assistance. Version compatibility is not a type of license, but a feature that ensures software products can work with different versions of operating systems or other software products. Subscription is a type of license that allows access to software products for a limited period of time based on recurring payments, but does not necessarily include vendor assistance. References: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/1440/software-licensing https://www.techopedia.com/definitio n/1032/business-impact-analysis-bia

The connection type that the server administrator is using to access the server remotely is out-of-band management. Out-of-band management is a method of accessing and controlling a server through a dedicated network interface or port that is separate from the regular data network. Out-of-band management allows administrators to perform tasks such as rebooting, configuring, troubleshooting, or updating a server even if the server is offline or unresponsive through the regular network. Out-of-band management can use protocols such as IPMI, iLO, DRAC, or BMC. Reference: https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/out-of-band-management

Grandfather-father-son (GFS) is a common backup rotation scheme that uses daily, weekly, and monthly backup media in a first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The daily backups are rotated on a 3-months basis using a FIFO system as above. The weekly backups are similarly rotated on a bi-yearly basis, and the monthly backups are rotated on an annual basis. The oldest backup media in each cycle are overwritten by the newest ones. This scheme provides multiple versions of backup data at different intervals, allowing for flexible restoration options. Waterfall is another name for GFS. Synthetic full is a backup method that combines an initial full backup with subsequent incremental backups to create a new full backup without transferring all data again. Tower of Hanoi is another backup rotation scheme that uses an algorithm based on moving disks between three pegs. References:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backup_rotation_scheme

1U stands for one unit and it is a standard unit of measurement for rack-mounted servers. It is equal to 1.75 inches (4.45 cm) in height. A 42U rack can accommodate 42 1U servers or a combination of servers with different unit sizes. Therefore, the unit size per server should be 1U if there are 19 1U servers in a 42U rack. References: https://www.comptia.org/training/resources/exam-objectives/comptia-server-sk0-005-exam-objectives (Objective 1.2)

LVM (Logical Volume Manager) is a tool that allows the technician to increase a partition’s size in the future without reformatting it on a Linux server. LVM creates logical volumes that can span across multiple physical disks or partitions and can be resized dynamically without losing data. LVM also provides other features such as snapshots, encryption, and RAID. DiskPart, fdisk, and Format are tools that can be used to partition and format disks, but they do not allow increasing a partition’s size without reformatting it. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/40702/how-to-manage-and-use-lvm-logical-volume-management-in-ubuntu/ https://www.howtogeek.com/school/using-windows-admin-tools-like-a-pro/lesson2/ https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/17001/how-to-format-a-usb-drive-in-ubuntu-using-gparted/

Bash is a scripting language that is commonly used in Linux systems to automate tasks and manipulate text. Bash scripts can run commands, variables, functions, loops, and conditional statements. PowerShell is a scripting language that is mainly used in Windows systems, while batch command files are simple text files that contain a series of commands to be executed by the command-line interpreter. Visual Basic is a programming language that is used to create applications, not scripts. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 4.0: Server Administration, Objective 4.2: Given a scenario, perform proper server maintenance techniques.

A public cloud model will most likely meet the need of eliminating all company-owned data centers. A public cloud is a type of cloud computing service that is provided by a third-party vendor over the internet. A public cloud offers scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness for hosting servers and applications, as the customers only pay for the resources they use and do not have to maintain their own infrastructure. A public cloud can also provide high availability, security, and performance for the servers and applications, as the vendor manages the underlying hardware and software. A public cloud can support various types of services, such as software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), or infrastructure as a service (IaaS). References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 1.0: Server Administration, Objective 1.2: Given a scenario, compare and contrast server roles and requirements for each.

A microSD card is the best method to stage the new media for the default boot device of a remote embedded IoT server that is having a Linux OS upgrade installed. A microSD card is a small and portable storage device that can store large amounts of data. It can be easily inserted into the slot of an embedded IoT server, which is a small and low-power device that performs specific tasks and connects to other devices over a network. A microSD card can also be formatted with different file systems, such as FAT32 or ext4, which are compatible with Linux OS. References: CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives, Domain 4.0: Networking, Objective 4.3: Given a scenario, configure servers for IoT applications.

The server administrator should use cable management to prevent network connectivity loss when pulling a server from the rack during maintenance. Cable management is a practice of organizing and securing the cables that connect various devices and components in a system. Cable management can help improve airflow, reduce clutter, prevent tangling, and avoid accidental disconnection or damage of cables. Cable management can be done using various tools and techniques, such as cable ties, cable trays, cable labels, cable organizers, or cable ducts.

Drive encryption is a form of encryption that best achieves the goal of data-at-rest encryption for all data. Drive encryption encrypts the entire hard drive, including the operating system, applications, and files. This prevents unauthorized access to the data if the drive is lost or stolen. Database, folder, and file encryption are forms of encryption that only encrypt specific data sets, not all data. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 5.0: Security, Objective 5.3: Given a scenario involving a security threat/vulnerability/risk, implement appropriate mitigation techniques.

The IP address/default gateway combination that the administrator should have used for the new server is IP address: 192.168.10.2/24 and Default gateway: 192.168.10.1. The IP address and the default gateway of a device must be in the same subnet to communicate with each other. A subnet is a logical division of a network that allows devices to share a common prefix of their IP addresses. The subnet mask determines how many bits of the IP address are used for the network prefix and how many bits are used for the host identifier. A /24 subnet mask means that the first 24 bits of the IP address are used for the network prefix and the last 8 bits are used for the host identifier. Therefore, any IP address that has the same first 24 bits as the default gateway belongs to the same subnet. In this case, the default gateway has an IP address of 192.168.10.1/24, which means that any IP address that starts with 192.168.10.x/24 belongs to the same subnet. The new server has an IP address of 192.168.1.1/24, which does not match the first 24 bits of the default gateway, so it belongs to a different subnet and cannot communicate with the default gateway. To fix this issue, the administrator should change the IP address of the new server to an unused IP address that starts with 192.168.10.x/24, such as 192.168.10.2/24.

This is the best action to perform before applying patches to one of the hosts in a high availability cluster. A high availability cluster is a group of hosts that act like a single system and provide continuous uptime. A high availability cluster is often used for load balancing, backup, and failover purposes. Failover is a process of transferring workloads from one host to another in case of a failure or maintenance. By failing over all VMs (Virtual Machines) from the host that needs to be patched to another host in the cluster, the technician can ensure that there is no downtime or data loss during the patching process. Disabling the heartbeat network is not a good action to perform, as this would disrupt the communication and synchronization between the hosts in the cluster. Fallback cluster services is not a valid term, but it may refer to restoring cluster services after a failover, which is not relevant before applying patches. Setting the cluster to active-active is not a good action to perform, as this would increase the load on both hosts and reduce redundancy. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/190014/virtualization-basics-understanding-techniques-and-fundamentals/ https://www.howtogeek.com/428483/what-is-end-to-end-encryption -and-why-does-it-matter/

Increasing IOPS (input/output operations per second) by implementing flash storage is the most likely solution to resolve a slowdown issue in the storage subsystem of a database server. Flash storage uses solid-state drives (SSDs) that have faster read/write speeds and lower latency than traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). This can improve the performance of database queries and transactions. Implementing deduplication, extending capacity, or reformatting the disk as FAT32 are not likely to resolve the issue, as they do not affect the IOPS of the storage subsystem. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 3.0: Storage, Objective 3.5: Summarize hardware and features of various storage technologies.

The organization should retrieve the tapes from the cold site and test them to ensure they are properly maintained and usable during a DR scenario. A cold site is a location that has space and power for backup equipment, but no actual equipment installed or configured. The organization stores backup tapes of its servers at cold sites as a precaution in case of a disaster that affects its primary site. However, backup tapes can degrade over time due to environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, dust, or magnetic fields. Therefore, the organization should periodically retrieve the tapes from the cold site and test them on compatible equipment to verify their integrity and readability.

References: CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 6, Lesson 6.4, Objective 6.4

DLP (Data Loss Prevention) is a security measure that prevents unauthorized copying, transferring, or leaking of sensitive data from a server or a network. It can block or alert the user when they try to copy a file to certain locations, such as a network share or a USB flash drive, based on predefined policies and rules. Verified References: [DLP], [Data loss]

A sniffer is a tool that captures and analyzes network traffic on a subnet or a network interface. It can help identify the source, destination, protocol, and content of the traffic and detect any anomalies or issues on the network. Verified References: [Sniffer], [Network traffic]

The administrator should use SCP to transfer log files from a Linux server to a Windows workstation. SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) is a protocol that allows secure file transfer between two devices using SSH (Secure Shell) encryption. SCP can transfer files between different operating systems, such as Linux and Windows, as long as both devices have an SSH client installed. SCP can also preserve file attributes, such as permissions and timestamps, during the transfer.

The top portion of the dialog box lists the users and/or groups that have access to the file or folder.

Data at rest refers to data that is stored in a persistent state on any device or media, such as hard drives, tapes, or cloud storage. Data at rest does not move for long periods of time unless it is accessed or modified by authorized users or applications. A cold site (A) is a backup location that has minimal or no equipment and resources to resume business operations in case of a disaster. On-site retention © is a policy of keeping backup data on premises for a certain period of time before transferring it to an off-site location. Off-site storage (D) is a method of storing backup data in a remote location that is physically or logically separated from the primary site. References: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/encryption-atrest https://www.techopedia.com/definition/144/cold-site https://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/backup/onsite-offsite-backup.html https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24195/offsite-storage

The administrator should rebuild the volume to restore it after replacing the failed hard drive. A volume is a logical unit of storage that can span across multiple physical disks. A volume can be configured with different levels of RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) to provide fault tolerance and performance enhancement. When a hard drive in a RAID volume fails, the data on that drive can be reconstructed from the remaining drives using parity or mirroring techniques. However, this process requires a new hard drive to replace the failed one and a rebuild operation to copy the data from the existing drives to the new one. Rebuilding a volume can take a long time depending on the size and speed of the drives and the RAID level.

A backdoor is a security risk that provides unauthorized access to an application. A backdoor is a hidden or undocumented way of bypassing the normal authentication or encryption mechanisms of an application, allowing an attacker to gain remote access, execute commands, or steal data. A backdoor can be created intentionally by the developer, maliciously by an attacker, or unintentionally by a programming error. References: CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives, Domain 5.0: Security, Objective 5.2: Given a scenario, apply logical access control methods.

When a virtual server crashes and presents a Purple Screen of Death (PSOD), the immediate response should be to document the incident. Collecting a screenshot of the PSOD is crucial as it contains error codes and state information that can be used for diagnosing the root cause of the crash. Noting the details, especially those that come after the line detailing the OS version, can provide specific clues to what might have caused the server to crash. This is a standard best practice before rebooting the server, as it ensures that there is a record of the event to investigate and potentially prevent future occurrences. A hard reboot should only be done after this critical information has been recorded.

RAID 5 is a RAID level that provides striping with parity, which means that data is distributed across all disks with one disk storing parity information for error correction. RAID 5 can tolerate one disk failure without losing data. RAID 5 provides the most storage as well as disk redundancy out of the four RAID levels given, since it only uses one disk for parity and the rest for data. For example, if four 200GB drives are used in a RAID 5 array, the total storage capacity would be 600GB (200GB x 3), while in RAID 0 it would be 800GB (200GB x 4), in RAID 1 it would be 200GB (200GB x 1), and in RAID 10 it would be 400GB (200GB x 2). References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels#RAID_5

The most likely cause of this failure is that both power supplies were connected to the same power feed, which means that they both lost power when utility power was lost. To prevent this from happening, redundant power supplies should be connected to different power feeds, preferably from different sources, such as a UPS or a generator. Verified References: [Redundant Power Supply Best Practices]

The cluster feature that will allow Ann to complete her task is failback. A cluster is a group of servers that work together to provide high availability, scalability, and load balancing for applications or services. A cluster can have different nodes or members that have different roles or states. An active node is a node that is currently running an application or service and serving requests from clients. A passive node is a node that is on standby and ready to take over if the active node fails. A failover is a process of switching from a failed or unavailable node to another node in a cluster. A failback is a process of switching back from a failover node to the original node after it becomes available again. Failback can be automatic or manual depending on the cluster configuration.

Kerberos is a network authentication protocol that uses tickets to allow clients and servers to prove their identity to each other. Kerberos relies on accurate time synchronization between the parties involved, as the tickets have expiration dates and timestamps. If the system clock of a Linux server is off by more than five minutes from the LDAP server or the domain controller, the Kerberos authentication will fail and generate errors. A local firewall is unlikely to block authentication requests if the server can communicate over the network and is configured correctly. The users’ passwords are not relevant if they are known-working LDAP credentials. The server has access to the LDAP host if it can communicate over the network and is configured correctly. References:

• https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/6/html/identity_management_guide/kerberos_errors
• https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/aix/7.2?topic=authentication-kerberos-time-synchronization

The first thing that the administrator should check is the network cable. The network cable is a physical medium that connects a server to a switch or other network device. The network cable can affect the speed and quality of the network connection, depending on its type, length, and condition. If the network cable is damaged, faulty, or incompatible, it can cause the server to connect at a lower speed than expected. Therefore, the administrator should check the network cable for any signs of wear, tear, or mismatch, and replace it if necessary.

References: CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 2, Lesson 2.1, Objective 2.1

Since both drives are in different RAID 1 arrays and both are hot-swappable, the most efficient step is to replace both failed drives at the same time. This can minimize the downtime and avoid unnecessary reboots. RAID 1 provides mirroring, which means that data is duplicated on both drives in the array. Therefore, replacing one drive will not affect the data on the other drive or the functionality of the array. References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels#RAID_1

The cache is a temporary storage area that holds frequently accessed data or instructions for faster retrieval. The cache can improve the read times for accessing files by reducing the need to access the hard drive, which is slower than the cache memory1. Therefore, the first step the technician should take is to check if the cache is turned on for the new file server. If the cache is turned off, the technician should enable it and see if the read times improve. The other options are incorrect because they are not the first steps to take. Adding more memory, installing faster hard drives, or enabling link aggregation are possible ways to improve the performance of the file server, but they are more costly and time-consuming than checking the cache. Moreover, they may not address the root cause of the problem if the cache is turned off.

A print backup is a type of backup that can be used to mitigate the risk of being unable to access the daily vital records if there is an IT disaster that causes both servers and the network to be offline. A print backup is a backup that involves printing out the data on paper and storing it in a secure location. A print backup can provide offline access to the data without relying on any hardware or software components that may be affected by the disaster. However, a print backup has some drawbacks such as high cost, low efficiency, low security, and environmental impact. A tape backup is a type of backup that involves storing the data on magnetic tape cartridges that can be accessed using a tape drive or a tape library. A tape backup can provide offline access to the data with high capacity, low cost, and long durability, but it requires special equipment and software that may not be available during a disaster. A cloud backup is a type of backup that involves storing the data on remote servers or platforms that can be accessed over the internet using a web browser or an application. A cloud backup can provide online access to the data with high scalability, flexibility, and security, but it requires network connectivity and bandwidth that may not be available during a disaster. A disk backup is a type of backup that involves storing the data on hard disk drives or solid state drives that can be accessed using a computer or a device. A disk backup can provide online or offline access to the data with high performance, reliability, and portability, but it requires compatible hardware and software that may not be available during a disaster. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/428483/what-is-end-to-end-encryption-and-why-does-it-matter/ https://www.howtogeek.com/443611/how-to-encrypt-your-macs-system-drive-removable-devices-and-individual-files/ https://www.howtogeek.com/199068/how-to-upgrade-your-existing-hard-drive-in-under-an-hour/ https://www.howtogeek.com/202794/what-is-the-difference-betwee n-127

If a server has three hard drives configured in a RAID 5 array, it means that the data is striped across all three drives with parity information. RAID 5 can tolerate one drive failure without losing data, but not two or more. If there are multiple failed hard drives, the RAID 5 array will become corrupted and the OS will not load. The other options are not likely to cause the issue, as the server passes POST, the CPU and RAM are seated correctly, the BIOS settings are correct, and the OS loads from a bootable USB drive. RAID 5 does not require four drives, it can work with three or more. References: https://www.technewstoday.com/what-is-a-raid-5/

Data-at-rest encryption is a method of encrypting data while it is stored on a storage device, such as a hard drive, an SSD, or a tape library. This ensures that if the data is stolen or lost, it will be unreadable without the encryption key. Data-at-rest encryption does not protect data while it is in transit over the network, in use by the CPU or memory, or attached to an email.

The steps in the troubleshooting theory that should be performed after a solution has been implemented are document the findings and notify the users. The troubleshooting theory is a systematic process of identifying and resolving problems or issues with a system or device. The troubleshooting theory consists of several steps that can be summarized as follows:

• Identify the problem: Gather information, scope the issue, establish a theory of probable cause.
• Establish a plan of action: Test the theory, determine next steps, escalate if necessary.
• Implement the solution: Execute the plan, verify functionality, prevent recurrence.
• Document the findings: Record actions taken, outcomes achieved, lessons learned.
• Notify the users: Communicate resolution status, confirm satisfaction, provide follow-up.

Documenting the findings is an important step that helps create a record of what was done and why, what worked and what didn’t, and what can be improved or avoided in the future. Documenting the findings can also help with reporting, auditing, compliance, or training purposes. Notifying the users is another important step that helps inform the affected parties of what was done and how it was resolved, confirm that the problem is fixed and that they are satisfied with the outcome, and provide any follow-up instructions or recommendations.

A link aggregation group (LAG) is a technique that combines multiple physical network interfaces into a single logical interface. This allows for the distribution of traffic across all the interfaces in the group, increasing bandwidth and redundancy. A LAG can use different modes to balance the load, such as address hashing, dynamic, or most recently used algorithm.

References: CompTIA Server+ Study Guide, Chapter 6: Networking, page 239.

Tabletop testing is a method of reviewing a DR plan without endangering company data and with a minimal time commitment. Tabletop testing involves a simulated scenario where the participants discuss their roles and responsibilities, identify potential issues, and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan. Simulated, live, and non-production testing are methods that involve more time and resources, and may pose some risks to company data. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 6.0: Disaster Recovery, Objective 6.3: Compare and contrast various backup techniques.

This is the best solution to prevent unauthorized files from being copied to the server via FTP because anonymous access allows anyone to log in to the FTP server without providing a username or password. Disabling anonymous access will require users to authenticate with valid credentials before accessing the FTP server. References: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/iis/configuration/system.applicationhost/sites/site/ftpserver/security/authentication/anonymousauthentication

A checksum is a value that is calculated from a data set to verify its integrity and authenticity. A checksum can be used to compare a downloaded installation package with the original source to ensure that the package has not been corrupted or tampered with during the download or transmission process. If the checksums match, then the package is safe to install. If the checksums do not match, then the package may be infected with malware or contain errors that could cause installation problems. Therefore, validating the checksum for the downloaded installation package is a necessary step before launching the installation again12

1: CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives 2: How to Verify File Integrity Using Checksums on Linux

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.

JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks) is a storage configuration that combines different types and sizes of hard drives into one logical unit without any RAID level or redundancy. It allows users to see all the drives within the unit as one large storage space. JBOD can utilize all the available capacity of the drives but does not provide any performance or fault tolerance benefits. Verified References: [JBOD], [RAID]

A single-threaded application is an application that can only execute one task or process at a time. A single-threaded application can only utilize one CPU core, regardless of how many cores are available or assigned to the virtual machine. Therefore, adding more vCPU cores to the VM will not improve the performance of the application, as it will still be limited by the speed and capacity of one core12.

To troubleshoot this issue, the administrator should check if the application is single-threaded or multi-threaded. This can be done by using tools such as Task Manager, Performance Monitor, or Process Explorer on Windows, or top, htop, or ps on Linux34. If the application is single-threaded, the administrator should consider the following options:

• Reduce the number of vCPU cores on the VM to match the number of threads that the application can use. This can help avoid CPU contention and co-stop issues that may arise from having too many vCPUs relative to the number of physical cores on the host5.
• Upgrade the physical CPU on the host to a faster or newer model that can provide higher clock speed and performance for the single core that the application uses.
• Optimize the application code or configuration to make it more efficient or multi-threaded, if possible. This can help the application take advantage of multiple cores and improve its performance.

A template is a preconfigured virtual machine image that can be used to create new virtual machines quickly and easily. A template can include the operating system, applications, settings, and data that are required for a specific purpose or role. A type 1 hypervisor is a virtualization technology that runs directly on bare metal hardware, without requiring an underlying operating system. A type 1 hypervisor can provide better performance, security, and isolation for virtual machines than a type 2 hypervisor, which runs on top of an operating system. Verified References: [Template], [Type 1 hypervisor]

DLP (Data Loss Prevention) software is a type of security software that monitors and controls the transfer of sensitive or confidential data outside the organization. DLP software can prevent data breaches, data leaks, or data theft by blocking, encrypting, or alerting on unauthorized data transfers. DLP software can be applied to various channels, such as email, web, cloud, or removable devices.

In this scenario, the human resources analyst is attempting to email the records for new employees to an outside payroll company. The records for new employees may contain sensitive or confidential data, such as personal information, tax information, or bank account information. The DLP software may detect this data and block the email from being sent outside the company, as it may violate the company’s data protection policy or regulations. The DLP software may also generate an error message to inform the analyst of the reason for the rejection.

The first thing that the technician should ensure to correct the database synchronization errors is that NTP is running on the database system. NTP (Network Time Protocol) is a protocol that synchronizes the clocks of network devices with a reference time source, such as an atomic clock or a GPS receiver. NTP ensures that all devices on a network have accurate and consistent time settings, which can affect various functions and applications. Database synchronization is a process of maintaining data consistency and integrity across multiple database servers or instances. Database synchronization can depend on accurate time settings, as time stamps are often used to determine which data is newer or older, and which data should be updated or overwritten. If NTP is not running on the database system, it may cause time drift or discrepancy between different database servers or instances, which can result in synchronization errors or data conflicts.

An access control vestibule, or mantrap, is a type of physical access control that provides a space between two sets of interlocking doors. It is designed to prevent unauthorized individuals from following authorized individuals into facilities with controlled access, such as a check-in desk. The vestibule can be configured to limit the number of individuals who enter the controlled area and to verify their authorization for physical access1. The other options are incorrect because they are not as effective as an access control vestibule in facilitating the implementation of a check-in desk. Security guards, security cameras, and bollards are useful for monitoring, deterring, or preventing unauthorized access, but they do not provide the same level of control and verification as an access control vestibule

PowerShell is a scripting language and a command-line shell that uses commands that start with sec- to perform security-related tasks. For example, sec-edit is a command that edits security policies, sec-logon is a command that manages logon sessions, and sec-policy is a command that applies security templates. Verified References: [PowerShell security commands], [Security policy]

A disaster recovery plan would be useful when trying to restore IT infrastructure operations after a non-planned interruption. A disaster recovery plan is a document that outlines the steps and procedures to recover from a major disruption of IT services caused by natural or man-made disasters, such as fire, flood, earthquake, cyberattack, etc. A disaster recovery plan typically includes:

• A list of critical IT assets and resources that need to be protected and restored
• A list of roles and responsibilities of IT staff and stakeholders involved in the recovery process
• A list of backup and recovery strategies and tools for data, applications, servers, networks, etc.
• A list of communication channels and methods for notifying users, customers, vendors, etc.
• A list of testing and validation methods for ensuring the functionality and integrity of restored systems
• A list of metrics and criteria for measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the recovery process

A disaster recovery plan helps IT organizations to minimize downtime, data loss, and financial impact of a disaster, as well as to resume normal operations as quickly as possible.

The best strategy to ensure wayward vehicle traffic does not interfere with datacenter operations is to install bollards. Bollards are sturdy posts that are installed around a perimeter to prevent vehicles from entering or crashing into a protected area. Bollards can provide physical security and deterrence for datacenters that are located near busy roads or parking lots. Bollards can also prevent accidental damage or injury caused by vehicles that lose control or have faulty brakes.

A crash cart is the best low-cost option to connect to any server while on site in a data center with multiple server racks. A crash cart is a mobile unit that contains a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and cables that can be plugged into any server for direct access and control. A crash cart can be used for troubleshooting, maintenance, or configuration of servers without requiring remote access or network connectivity. A crash cart is also easy to move around and store in a data center. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 2.0: Hardware, Objective 2.4: Given a scenario involving server management issues (e.g., remote access), troubleshoot using appropriate tools.

A S.M.A.R.T. error is an indication of a potential failure of a hard drive. S.M.A.R.T. stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology and it is a feature that monitors the health and performance of hard drives. A hard drive test can help diagnose the issue and determine if the drive needs to be replaced. References: https://www.comptia.org/training/resources/exam-objectives/comptia-server-sk0-005-exam-objectives (Objective 1.1)

The administrator should identify the runaway process or processes that are causing high load average on the server. Load average is a metric that indicates how many processes are either running on or waiting for the CPU at any given time. A high load average means that there are more processes than available CPU cores, resulting in poor performance and slow response time. A runaway process is a process that consumes excessive CPU resources without terminating or releasing them. A runaway process can be caused by various factors, such as programming errors, infinite loops, memory leaks, etc. To identify a runaway process, the administrator can use tools such as top, ps, or htop to monitor CPU usage and process status. To stop a runaway process, the administrator can use commands such as kill, pkill, or killall to send signals to terminate it.

Phishing is a type of attack that is the most difficult to mitigate with technology. Phishing is a technique of deceiving users into revealing their personal or confidential information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or bank accounts, by sending them fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate sources. Phishing relies on human factors, such as curiosity, greed, or fear, to trick users into clicking on malicious links or attachments, or entering their credentials on fake websites. Technology solutions, such as antivirus software, firewalls, or spam filters, can help detect and block some phishing attempts, but they cannot prevent users from falling victim to social engineering tactics. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 5.0: Security, Objective 5.3: Given a scenario, explain methods and techniques to secure data.

QSFP+ is a type of connector that should be used to connect a server to a switch that uses 40G network connectivity. QSFP+ (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus) is a compact, hot-pluggable transceiver module that supports data rates up to 40 Gbps. QSFP+ modules can be used for various network protocols and media types, such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, InfiniBand, or optical fiber. QSFP+ modules have a 38-pin edge connector and can be inserted into a QSFP+ port on a switch or a server. SFP+ (Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus) is a type of connector that supports data rates up to 10 Gbps, but not 40 Gbps. SFP+ modules have a 20-pin edge connector and can be inserted into an SFP+ port on a switch or a server. GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter) is an older type of connector that supports data rates up to 1 Gbps, but not 40 Gbps. GBIC modules have an SC duplex connector and can be inserted into a GBIC port on a switch or a server. SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) is another older type of connector that supports data rates up to 1 Gbps or 4 Gbps, but not 40 Gbps. SFP modules have an LC duplex connector and can be inserted into an SFP port on a switch or a server. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/190014/virtualization-basics-understanding-techniques-and-fundamentals/ https://www.howtogeek.com/428483/what-is-end-to-end-encryption-and-why-does-it-matter/ https://www.howtogeek.com/443611/how-to-encrypt-your-macs-system-drive-removable-devices-and-individual-files/

A cache battery is a battery that provides backup power to the cache memory of a disk array controller. The cache memory stores data that is waiting to be written to the disk array. If the cache battery fails, the data in the cache memory may be lost or corrupted when the power is interrupted. Verified References: [Cache battery], [Disk array controller]

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Link aggregation is a technique that combines multiple physical network links into one logical link with higher bandwidth and redundancy. It can take advantage of all the available bandwidth of the NICs (Network Interface Cards) on the server and provide load balancing and failover capabilities for network traffic. Verified References: [Link aggregation], [NIC]

RTO (Recovery Time Objective) is a measure of how much downtime an organization can tolerate during an unplanned outage. It is the maximum time allowed for restoring normal operations after a disaster. RTO is one of the key metrics for disaster recovery planning and testing. SLA (Service Level Agreement) is a contract that defines the expected level of service and performance between a provider and a customer. BIA (Business Impact Analysis) is a process that identifies and evaluates the potential effects of a disaster on critical business functions and processes. MTTR (Mean Time To Repair) is a measure of how long it takes to fix a failed component or system. References: https://parachute.cloud/rto-vs-rpo/ https://www.techopedia.com/definition/13622/service-level-agreement-sla https://www.techopedia.com/definition/1032/business-impact-analysis-bia https://www.techopedia.com/definition/8239/mean-time-to-repair-mttr

The most likely cause of this issue is that the UEFI boot was interrupted by a missing Linux boot file, such as grub.cfg or vmlinuz, which are essential for loading the Linux kernel and booting the system. The £s> prompt indicates that the system entered into UEFI Shell mode, which is a command-line interface for troubleshooting UEFI boot issues. The administrator can use UEFI Shell commands to locate and restore the missing boot file or change the boot order. Verified References: [UEFI Shell Guide]

The technician should use port 22 to configure a server that requires secure remote access. Port 22 is the default port for Secure Shell (SSH), which is a protocol that allows secure remote login and command execution over a network connection using a command-line interface (CLI). SSH encrypts both the authentication and data transmission between the client and the server, preventing eavesdropping, tampering, or spoofing. SSH can be used to perform various tasks on a server remotely, such as configuration, administration, maintenance, troubleshooting, etc.

The administrator is attempting to establish the recovery point objective (RPO) by determining how frequently backups need to be performed on an application server. RPO is a metric that defines how much data can be lost or how far back in time a recovery can go in case of a disaster or disruption, based on the business requirements and impact analysis of an organization or system. RPO is measured by the time interval between backups or snapshots of data, such as hourly, daily, weekly, etc., depending on how critical or sensitive the data is and how often it changes or updates. References: [CompTIA Server+ Certification Exam Objectives], Domain 5.0: Security, Objective 5.3: Given a scenario, explain methods and techniques to secure data.

Port 53 is the standard port for DNS (Domain Name System) queries and responses. DNS is a service that translates domain names (such as www.example.com) into IP addresses (such as 192.0.2.1) and vice versa.  DNS is essential for internet connectivity, as it allows users and applications to access websites and other online resources by using human-readable names instead of numerical addresses1.

The DNSSrv server is a DNS server that provides name resolution for the corporate network. If port 53 is blocked on this server, it will not be able to communicate with other DNS servers or clients, and the name resolution will fail. This will prevent users from accessing any websites or online services that rely on domain names, such as web browsers, email clients, or cloud applications. Therefore, port 53 must remain open on DNSSrv to allow DNS traffic to flow.