Top 44 Scenario-Based VMware Interview Questions

and Answers of 2024

techwrix.com/top-44-scenario-based-vmware-interview-questions-and-answers-of-2024

VMware is the leader in virtualization and cloud technology, offering solutions that
revolutionize data center management and operations. Understanding VMware’s
functionalities and features is crucial for IT professionals aiming to excel in virtualized
environments.

In this article, we’ll provide a list of 44 VMware scenario-based interview questions and
answers that you might encounter in a VMware interview and exam in 2024, with a focus
on VMware vSphere 8 and its configuration maximums.

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If you’re interested in vSphere certification, check out this Clear and Simple vSphere 8
Professional – VMware VCP DCV course; it will help you pass the exam.

What is VMware?
VMware is a global leader in virtualization cloud infrastructure, and digital workspace
technology, accelerating digital transformation by enabling unprecedented freedom and
flexibility in how our customers build and evolve IT environments. VMware was recently
acquired by Broadcom, providing the best-in-class solution for VMware customers and
other businesses.

The Importance of VMware Interview Questions

For professionals seeking roles in system administration, network management, or data

center operations, mastering VMware interview questions is very important for them.
They not only test your knowledge but also gauge your ability to apply concepts in
practical scenarios.

Also Read: Top 50 VMware Interview Questions and Answers of 2023

Who Should Consider These Questions?

Aspiring VMware professionals

System Administrators
Network Engineers
Data Center Managers
IT students specializing in virtualization

Top 44 Scenario-Based VMware Interview Questions and Answers

The following is a list of 44 scenario-based VMware interview questions that might help
you to crack VMware interview and exam in 2024.

1. In a vSphere cluster with ESXi hosts and a critical application running

on esx01, what steps should an administrator take to maintain VM1’s
operation when placing esx01 into maintenance mode, considering that
vSphere HA and DRS are not enabled?

To maintain the operation of VM1 during the maintenance of esx01, the VMware
administrator should manually migrate VM1 to another host in the cluster using vSphere
vMotion. This can be done in two ways:

Cold Migration: Shutting down VM1 and moving it to another host in the cluster.
This method interrupts the service, but it’s simpler and doesn’t require live
interaction.

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 Live Migration: Moving VM1 to another host while it’s still running. This method
ensures continuous operation but requires careful coordination to prevent service
disruption.

2. How can an administrator achieve better performance and near-zero

CPU utilization for networking functions on ESXi hosts?

To enhance network performance with minimal CPU usage, the administrator should
enable vSphere Network I/O Control on a newly created vSphere Distributed Switch. This
feature allows for the efficient management of network resources, distributing bandwidth
to where it’s needed most, and reducing CPU load by offloading network processing
tasks.

3. What feature can a VMware administrator use to avoid using Storage

vMotion for the vSphere Cluster Services (vCLS) VMs during datastore
maintenance?

The VMware administrator should use vCLS Retreat Mode in this scenario. This feature
temporarily relocates vCLS VMs without using Storage vMotion, allowing maintenance on
the datastore while ensuring the continuous operation of vCLS VMs.

4. Which option should a VMware Engineer choose to implement tag-

based placement rules for virtual machine disks in VMware vCenter?

The administrator should use Storage Policy-Based Management (SPBM) to achieve this.
SPBM allows tagging and categorizing storage resources, enabling automated and
efficient placement of virtual machine disks based on predefined criteria.

5. In a two-node vSphere cluster with two domain controller VMs, how

can an administrator ensure the VMs run on separate hosts without
interfering with normal maintenance?
The administrator should configure the Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) by creating
a ‘Should run Virtual Machines to Hosts’ anti-affinity rule. This rule will ensure that the
domain controller VMs are always running on separate hosts, providing redundancy and
reliability.

6. When performing hardware maintenance on the host running the

vCenter Server Appliance, which vSphere feature should be configured to
minimize downtime for vCenter users?
The administrator should configure vCenter Server High Availability (HA). This feature
ensures that if the primary vCenter Server Appliance becomes unavailable due to
maintenance or other issues, a standby replica can take over with minimal disruption.
vCenter Server HA creates a cluster of vCenter Server instances to provide failover
capabilities, thus reducing downtime and ensuring continuous availability of the vCenter
services.

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7. To manage VM templates and ISO images for a remote office, requiring
storage in a single repository and version management, what is the best
solution for an administrator to deploy?
The administrator should deploy a local content library for this purpose. A content library
is a repository where VM templates, ISO images, and other types of vSphere content can
be stored and managed centrally. It supports versioning and makes it easy to manage
and deploy templates across different vCenter Server instances, which is especially
useful for handling resources in remote offices.

8. In a vSphere cluster with a VM group named DB and host groups

named PROD1 and PROD2, how can an administrator ensure VMs in the
DB group run on hosts in PROD1, but switch to PROD2 if PROD1 hosts
are offline?
The administrator should create a VM/Host affinity rule specifying that VMs in the DB
group are required to run on hosts in the PROD1 group. This rule ensures that the VMs
will primarily operate on the PROD1 hosts. If these hosts go offline, the rule should be set
to allow the VMs to run on the PROD2 hosts, providing a fallback option to maintain
operations during maintenance or outages.

9. What is the role of the vSphere Distributed Services Engine?

The vSphere Distributed Services Engine is designed to provide hardware-accelerated

data processing, enhancing the overall infrastructure performance. This engine facilitates
efficient data handling and processing by offloading these tasks to dedicated hardware
resources. This offloading leads to improved performance and efficiency, especially in
environments with high data throughput requirements.

10. For configuring a security policy at the port group level of a

standard switch that applies to all virtual machines on portgroup-1 and
forwards all traffic, what setting should an administrator use?

The administrator should configure the security policy to set Promiscuous Mode to
‘Accept’ on the specified port group. Promiscuous Mode, when set to ‘Accept’, allows all
network traffic to be seen by all virtual machines within the port group. This setting is
crucial for scenarios where monitoring, traffic analysis, or similar functionalities are
required, as it ensures no traffic is filtered or blocked based on destination addresses.

11. When consolidating multiple physical servers, which VMware

solution is recommended for migrating workloads to a software-defined
data center?
VMware vSphere is the ideal solution for this scenario. It provides a robust software-
defined data center (SDDC) platform, enabling the migration of physical server workloads
to virtual machines (VMs). This consolidation streamlines data center operations, reduces
hardware dependency, and enhances scalability and manageability.

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12. For configuring Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) over
Converged Ethernet v2 (RoCE v2) in ESXi 7 or later, which two types of
adapters should an administrator configure?
The administrator should configure two types of adapters:

RDMA Network Adapter: This hardware adapter is installed on the host to facilitate
RDMA over Ethernet networks, providing high-throughput, low-latency networking.
Software NVMe over RDMA Storage Adapter: This software adapter enables
efficient storage operations over RDMA networks, leveraging the NVMe protocol for
enhanced performance.

These adapters work together to enable efficient, high-performance networking and

storage operations in virtualized environments.

13. How can an administrator apply only the storage configuration

settings from a host profile named Standard-Config to other host
profiles?
The administrator should copy the storage settings from the Standard-Config host profile
to the other host profiles. This method allows for the selective application of specific
settings (in this case, storage configuration) from one host profile to others, ensuring
consistency across the environment without affecting other configuration aspects of the
target host profiles.

14. Which two datastore types store the components of a virtual

machine as a set of objects?
The two datastore types that store virtual machine components as objects are:

VMware vSAN: vSAN operates by aggregating local or direct-attached storage

devices of a host cluster and creating a single datastore shared across the cluster. It
stores VM components as objects for efficient management and scalability.
vSphere Virtual Volume (vVols): vVols represent a more advanced storage
framework that enables array-based operations at the VM level. They allow for finer
control and management of storage resources by treating VM components as
unique objects.

Both vSAN and vVols provide enhanced storage capabilities, enabling more flexible and
efficient management of VM storage resources.

15. What approach should an administrator take to provide log

bundles for the ESXi hosts in an environment when requested by VMware
Support?
The administrator has two options for generating log bundles:

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 Generate Separate Log Bundles: Use the vSphere Host Client to generate
individual log bundles for each ESXi host. This approach is suitable when specific
host logs are required.
Generate Combined Log Bundle: Use the vSphere Client to create a combined
log bundle for all ESXi hosts. This is efficient when a comprehensive view of the
environment is needed.

Both methods ensure that detailed logs are provided to VMware Support for
troubleshooting and analysis.

16. What trigger should an administrator use to identify and resolve

issues quickly when a Fibre Channel adapter in an ESXi host experiences
inconsistent connectivity?
Answer Explanation: The administrator should use the “Lost Storage Connectivity” trigger.
This alert is designed to notify administrators when a storage device, such as a Fibre
Channel adapter, loses connectivity. It helps in quickly identifying connectivity issues,
allowing for prompt investigation and resolution, thereby minimizing potential disruptions
caused by storage connectivity problems.

17. For a software-defined data center (SDDC) requiring disaster

recovery (DR) that meets specific criteria, including protection of VMs to a
secondary site with manageable costs, how can an administrator achieve
this?

The administrator should configure VMware Site Recovery Manager in combination with
vSphere Replication. Site Recovery Manager provides a disaster recovery solution that
integrates with the underlying vSphere infrastructure. It allows for the replication and
failover of VMs to a secondary site, ensuring they remain online until failover and
managing the process from the vSphere Client. This setup meets the requirement of
keeping costs low while ensuring effective DR capabilities.

18. What steps should an administrator follow to update a VMware

vCenter instance to a newer minor release version when there is no
Internet access?

The administrator should first download the required update onto a machine with Internet
access. Then, the steps are:

Mount the ISO update file to the CD-ROM drive of the vCenter instance. This involves
transferring the update file to a medium accessible by the vCenter Server.

Use the vCenter Management Interface to select the mounted CD-ROM as the source for
the update. This step initiates the update process using the files on the ISO, bypassing
the need for direct Internet access.

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19. How can an administrator ensure a uniform and compliant update
of vSphere clusters running vSAN?

The administrator should use vSphere Lifecycle Manager. The process involves:

Configuring vSphere Lifecycle Manager with an image for the cluster, ensuring all hosts
are updated with the same software.

Downloading firmware updates from the hardware vendor’s website.

Running a hardware compatibility check using Lifecycle Manager to ensure the new
software versions comply with the vSAN Hardware Compatibility List.

This approach ensures that both the software and firmware across the cluster are
uniformly and compliantly updated.

20. To segregate VM traffic by VLAN on a vSphere standard switch,

with a VLAN ID of 4095 and VLAN tagging at the VM level, what tagging
mode is needed?

The required tagging mode is Virtual Guest Tagging (VGT). In this mode, the VLAN
tagging is handled directly by the virtual machine, allowing the VM to manage multiple
VLANs. The switch port group must be set to VLAN ID 4095, which is a special
configuration enabling the passing of all VLAN traffic to the VMs, leaving the responsibility
of VLAN tagging to the guest operating system or VM.

21. How can an administrator implement tag-based placement rules

for virtual machine disks in VMware vCenter?

The administrator should use Storage Policy-Based Management (SPBM) to achieve this.
SPBM allows the creation and application of storage policies that can include tag-based
rules. These policies help in categorizing and allocating storage resources based on
specific criteria, enabling more efficient and tailored storage management for virtual
machine disks.

22. What are two tasks that can be completed using vSphere Lifecycle
Manager?

vSphere Lifecycle Manager can be used to:

Check ESXi Host Compliance: Ensure that ESXi hosts are compliant with
recommended baselines, which includes verifying that the hosts are running the
intended versions of software and configurations.
Manage Firmware Lifecycle: Handle the firmware lifecycle for ESXi hosts as part
of a managed cluster. This involves updating and maintaining firmware versions in
line with software updates and baselines, ensuring harmonized and secure host
operation.

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23. What are two use cases for VMware vSphere+?
VMware vSphere+ can be used to:

Enhance On-Premises Workloads: Manage on-premises workloads through the

VMware Cloud Console, providing a unified and cloud-enhanced management
experience.
Simplify vCenter Lifecycle Management: Utilize cloud-enabled automation to
streamline vCenter lifecycle management, which includes updating, patching, and
configuring vCenter instances more efficiently.

24. Which two components of the software-defined data center (SDDC)

are responsible for the initial abstraction and subsequent management of
CPU, memory, disk, and network resources?
The two key components are:

VMware ESXi: This is a hypervisor that abstracts and allocates the physical
hardware resources like CPU, memory, and network resources to create virtual
machines.
VMware vCenter Server: This server manages the ESXi hosts and VMs, providing
centralized management, resource distribution, and operational insight into the
virtual infrastructure.

25. For managing VM templates and ISO images in a remote office,

requiring a single repository and version management, what solution
should an administrator deploy?

The administrator should deploy a local content library. This feature in VMware allows for
centralized storage and management of VM templates, ISO images, and other content. It
supports version control and streamlined deployment across different locations, making it
ideal for managing resources in a remote office setting.

Also Read: An Ultimate Guide on VMware VCP-DCV 2023 Certification Exam

26. To improve the performance of a virtual machine with 20 outdated

snapshots, what action should an administrator take?

The administrator should consolidate all the snapshots into the base virtual machine.
Snapshots can impact VM performance, especially when they are numerous and old.
Consolidating them into the base VM will remove the overhead caused by these
snapshots and is likely to improve the VM’s overall performance.

27. When performing hardware maintenance on the host running the

vCenter Server Appliance, which vSphere feature should be configured to
minimize downtime for vCenter users?

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The administrator should configure vCenter Server High Availability (HA). This feature
ensures a minimal downtime experience by providing a failover mechanism for the
vCenter Server Appliance, allowing a secondary (standby) appliance to take over
operations if the primary appliance becomes unavailable.

28. Which VMware solution is recommended for consolidating multiple

physical servers into a software-defined data center?

VMware vSphere is recommended for this purpose. It allows for the creation of a
software-defined data center by enabling the migration of workloads from physical
servers to virtual machines. This consolidation enhances flexibility, scalability, and
manageability of the data center infrastructure.

29. When configuring RDMA over Converged Ethernet v2 (RoCE v2),

which two types of adapters must an administrator configure?

The administrator needs to configure two types of adapters:

Paravirtual RDMA Adapter: This software adapter allows virtual machines to

directly access RDMA-capable network devices, providing high-throughput and low-
latency networking.
RDMA Network Adapter: A hardware adapter that facilitates RDMA
communication over Ethernet networks, enabling efficient data transfer with minimal
CPU overhead.

Together, these adapters enable virtual machines to efficiently utilize RDMA technology
over Ethernet networks.

30. How can an administrator apply only the storage configuration

settings from a host profile named Standard-Config to other host
profiles?

The administrator should copy the storage settings from the Standard-Config host profile
to the other host profiles. This action allows the selective application of storage
configuration from one host profile to others, ensuring consistent storage settings across
the hosts without altering other configuration aspects.

31. What action should an administrator take to gracefully restart a VM

through the vSphere Client when the option is greyed out?

The administrator should migrate the VM to another host. This can often resolve issues
that cause certain options to be unavailable or greyed out in the vSphere Client. Migrating
the VM can refresh its state and potentially restore the functionality of the restart option.

32. Which two datastore types store the components of a virtual

machine as a set of objects?

The two datastore types are:

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 VMware Virtual Machine File System (VMFS): VMFS is a high-performance file
system that provides storage virtualization optimized for virtual machines.
vSphere Virtual Volumes (vVols): vVols create a more dynamic and flexible
approach to storage management, treating storage as a set of objects, each
corresponding to a virtual machine component.

Both VMFS and vVols offer a modern approach to storage, facilitating efficient and flexible
management of VM storage components.

33. To prepare a virtual machine with company-approved software for

deployment as full clones for multiple users, which two tasks should an
administrator complete?

The administrator should:

Set Appropriate Permissions on the Virtual Machine: Ensure the VM has the
correct permissions set for users and groups within the organization.
Create a Virtual Machine Customization Specification: This specification
includes all the necessary configurations, such as network settings and licensing
information, ensuring that each clone of the VM is correctly configured for
deployment.

34. What action should an administrator take in the vCenter

Management Interface to continue the staging of a patch after
encountering an error?

The administrator should use the “Resume” option in the vCenter Management Interface
to continue the patch staging process. This option allows the staging to pick up from
where the error occurred, rather than starting over from the beginning.

35. If an administrator is unable to use the Cluster Quickstart workflow

to add and configure a new ESXi host to an existing vSphere cluster, what
could be the cause?
The likely cause is that the administrator must first manually add the host to the cluster.
Once the host is added manually, the Cluster Quickstart workflow can be used to
complete the configuration and integration of the host into the cluster.

36. To manage VMware vCenter inventories at two different sites from

a single vSphere Client session, which vCenter feature must be
configured?

The administrator should configure Enhanced Linked Mode. This feature allows multiple
vCenter Server instances to be linked together, enabling centralized management of
multiple sites through a single vSphere Client session.

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37. Before updating the Supervisor cluster, what action must an
administrator take if some Tanzu Kubernetes Grid clusters are running an
incompatible version?

The administrator must update the incompatible Tanzu Kubernetes Grid clusters prior to
proceeding with the Supervisor cluster update. This ensures compatibility and smooth
functioning post-update, avoiding potential conflicts or issues that could arise from
version mismatches.

38. What vSphere features remain supported for Windows-based

virtual machines when enabling vSphere’s virtualization-based security
feature?
When vSphere’s virtualization-based security feature is enabled, the following features
remain supported for Windows-based VMs:

vSphere vMotion: Allows for the live migration of VMs from one host to another
without downtime.
vSphere High Availability (HA): Provides automatic restart of VMs on other hosts
in the event of a host failure.
vSphere Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS): Automatically balances VMs
across hosts in a cluster to optimize performance.

These features ensure continued operational efficiency and reliability of Windows-based

VMs, even with virtualization-based security enabled.

39. How can an administrator create an image of a guest OS and

application from a physical server to move to a software-defined data
center (SDDC) in a remote secure location with no external network
connectivity?

The administrator should use VMware vCenter Converter to create a cold clone of the
physical server. This process involves shutting down the physical server and then
creating an exact copy or image of it. The image includes both the guest OS and the
application, which can then be transferred to the remote SDDC, even without network
connectivity.

40. What Single Sign-On (SSO) solution should an administrator

configure for VMware vCenter based on specific criteria, including
support for Enhanced Link Mode groups and integration with a single
Active Directory domain?

The administrator should choose vCenter Single Sign-On with Active Directory (Windows
Integrated Authentication) as the identity source. This solution supports Enhanced Link
Mode groups, allows integration with a single Active Directory domain, and adheres to the
domain’s password and account lockout policies. It also supports token-based
authentication, meeting all the specified criteria.

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41. For protecting a database server using VMware vSphere
Replication with specific requirements, including the use of VM
snapshots in the replication process, what step must an administrator
complete?

The administrator should enable guest OS VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service)
quiescing for the virtual machine. This allows the VM’s snapshots to be used effectively
as part of the replication process, ensuring consistent and reliable replication of the
database server.

42. What minimum resources must be allocated to a VMware vCenter

Server Appliance to support an environment with 400 hosts and 4000
virtual machines?

The vCenter Server Appliance should be allocated a minimum of 30 GB of memory and 8

vCPUs. This resource allocation is necessary to manage and maintain performance in an
environment of this scale, with 400 hosts and 4000 VMs.

43. Which feature allows for the non-disruptive migration of a virtual

machine between two clusters in a single VMware vCenter instance?

Answer Explanation: vSphere vMotion is used for this purpose. It enables the live
migration of VMs from one cluster to another within the same vCenter instance without
any service interruption, ensuring seamless and continuous operations.

44. In a distributed switch using the “Route based on physical NIC

load” load balancing algorithm, what is the threshold for send or receive
utilization on an uplink for traffic to be moved to a second uplink?
The threshold is 60 percent of the capacity over 30 seconds. If the send or receive
utilization of an uplink exceeds this threshold, the load balancing algorithm will move
some of the traffic to another uplink to balance the load and maintain optimal network
performance.

Also Read: An Ultimate Guide on VMware VCP-NV 2023 Certification Exam

Conclusion
As we reach the end of our exploration of these 44 scenario-based VMware interview
questions, it’s evident that the depth and breadth of VMware’s technology present both a
challenge and an opportunity for IT professionals. These questions not only represent
common scenarios you encounter in a VMware environment but also reflect the evolving
landscape of virtualization and cloud computing. Understanding these concepts is not just
about passing interviews or exams; it’s about equipping you with the knowledge and skills
necessary to navigate, manage, and optimize modern IT infrastructures.

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The scenarios discussed here span a wide range of topics, from managing virtual
machine migrations and configuring network settings to implementing disaster recovery
plans and optimizing data center operations. This diversity underscores the multifaceted
nature of VMware’s solutions and the importance of a comprehensive understanding of its
ecosystem. For IT professionals looking to excel in their roles, continual learning and
staying updated with the latest VMware advancements are crucial.

If you found this compilation insightful and wish to delve deeper into the world of VMware
or have specific queries, don’t hesitate to reach out. Share your thoughts, experiences, or
questions in the comments below, and let’s keep the conversation going. If you’re
interested in vSphere certification, check out this Clear and Simple vSphere 8
Professional – VMware VCP DCV course, it will help you pass the exam.

About The Author

Nisar Ahmad

Nisar is a founder of Techwrix, Sr. Systems Engineer, double VCP6 (DCV & NV), 8 x
vExpert 2017-24, with 12 years of experience in administering and managing data center
environments using VMware and Microsoft technologies. He is a passionate technology
writer and loves to write on virtualization, cloud computing, hyper-convergence (HCI),
cybersecurity, and backup & recovery solutions.

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