CompTIA Server+ Practice Questions: Troubleshooting Domain

Published: September 7, 2025 | 20 min read

Test your CompTIA Server+ knowledge with 10 practice questions from the Troubleshooting domain. Includes detailed explanations and answers.

CompTIA Server+ Practice Questions

Master the Troubleshooting Domain

Test your knowledge in the Troubleshooting domain with these 10 practice questions. Each question is designed to help you prepare for the CompTIA Server+ certification exam with detailed explanations to reinforce your learning.

Question 1

A server fails to boot, displaying a 'missing operating system' error. What should you check first?

A) The server's network configuration.

B) The boot order in BIOS/UEFI settings.

C) The server's cooling system.

D) The user account permissions.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: A 'missing operating system' error usually indicates that the BIOS/UEFI is not set to boot from the correct drive. Checking the boot order is the first logical step. Network configuration, cooling system, and user permissions are unrelated to this issue.

Question 2

A server's backup process fails every night at the same time. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

A) The server is rebooting during the backup window.

B) The backup software license has expired.

C) The network connection is lost intermittently.

D) The backup destination is out of space.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: D

Explanation: A common cause of backup failures is insufficient space at the backup destination. The consistent timing suggests a recurring issue like space limitations. Intermittent network issues would not cause consistent failures, and a reboot would likely affect other processes as well. License expiration would prevent the backup from starting at all.

Question 3

After a recent patch update, a server application fails to start. What is the best first step in troubleshooting the issue?

A) Uninstall the patch immediately.

B) Check the application logs for specific errors.

C) Reboot the server.

D) Restore the server from the last backup.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Checking the application logs for errors can provide specific information about why the application fails to start. Uninstalling the patch, rebooting, or restoring from backup should only be considered after identifying the cause.

Question 4

A server is not responding to ping requests, but other servers on the same network are reachable. Which troubleshooting step should be performed first?

A) Check the server's firewall settings

B) Replace the server's network cable

C) Reboot the switch

D) Update the server's BIOS

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: When a server is not responding to ping requests, the firewall settings should be checked first. The firewall may be blocking ICMP packets. If the firewall settings are correct, other steps such as checking the network cable or switch can be considered.

Question 5

A server in a failover cluster is not responding to client requests. What is the first step in troubleshooting this issue?

A) Check the cluster's failover settings.

B) Reboot the unresponsive server.

C) Verify the server's network connectivity.

D) Upgrade the server's firmware.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Verifying network connectivity is a crucial first step, as network issues can prevent the server from responding to client requests. Checking failover settings and upgrading firmware are more complex steps that should be considered after basic connectivity is confirmed. Rebooting should be a last resort.

Question 6

A server's performance has degraded after a recent firmware upgrade. What should you do first?

A) Roll back the firmware upgrade.

B) Check for compatibility issues with the server's hardware.

C) Increase the server's memory.

D) Reinstall the operating system.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Checking for compatibility issues with the server's hardware after a firmware upgrade is a logical first step. Rolling back the upgrade or reinstalling the OS should be considered only after verifying compatibility. Increasing memory is unrelated to the recent firmware upgrade.

Question 7

A server's performance has degraded significantly, and the CPU usage is consistently high. Which of the following tools should be used to identify the process consuming the most CPU resources?

A) Task Manager

B) Disk Management

C) Event Viewer

D) Device Manager

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: Task Manager is the appropriate tool for monitoring CPU usage and identifying processes that consume the most resources. Disk Management is for managing disk partitions, Event Viewer is for viewing system logs, and Device Manager is for managing hardware devices.

Question 8

A server's backup process is failing consistently. The error logs indicate a 'disk full' error. What should you do first?

A) Increase the size of the backup storage.

B) Delete old backup files to free up space.

C) Change the backup schedule to a less busy time.

D) Verify the backup software configuration.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Deleting old backup files is a quick way to free up space and resolve the 'disk full' error. Increasing storage or changing the schedule are longer-term solutions, and verifying the software configuration is unlikely to resolve a disk space issue.

Question 9

A server is experiencing intermittent connectivity issues. Which tool would be most effective for identifying network latency problems?

A) Ping

B) Traceroute

C) Netstat

D) IPConfig

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Traceroute is used to identify the path packets take to reach a destination and can highlight where latency issues occur along the route. Ping checks connectivity but doesn't show path details, Netstat shows open connections, and IPConfig displays IP settings.

Question 10

A server's RAID 5 array is showing a degraded status. What is the MOST appropriate action to take?

A) Replace the failed drive and rebuild the array

B) Immediately shut down the server to prevent data loss

C) Convert the RAID 5 array to RAID 0 for better performance

D) Ignore the warning and continue normal operations

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: In a RAID 5 configuration, a degraded status indicates a failed drive. The correct action is to replace the failed drive and rebuild the array to restore redundancy. Shutting down the server, converting to RAID 0, or ignoring the warning are inappropriate responses that could lead to data loss or further issues.

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About CompTIA Server+ Certification

The CompTIA Server+ certification validates your expertise in troubleshooting and other critical domains. Our comprehensive practice questions are carefully crafted to mirror the actual exam experience and help you identify knowledge gaps before test day.

🔧 Keep Practicing: CompTIA Server+ Resources

Sharpen your skills with focused practice and a quick-reference cheat sheet:

📘 Server+ Cheat Sheet

📘 Ultimate Guide to CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005)

Everything you need to know to prepare for the Server+ certification exam — domains, tips, and prep resources in one place.

👉 Read the Ultimate Guide