Pass the CompTIA CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 Questions and answers with CertsForce

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

The correct answer is D. A virtual switch.

A virtual switch is a software-based network device that connects the virtual machines (VMs) in a virtual environment and allows them to communicate with each other and with the physical network. A virtual switch can also create and manage virtual LANs (VLANs), which are logical segments of a network that separate the traffic of different VMs or groups of VMs. A VLAN needs a DHCP server to assign IP addresses to the VMs that belong to it. A virtual switch can act as a DHCP relay agent and forward the DHCP requests from the VMs to the DHCP server on the physical network.This way, the VMs can receive correct IP addresses for their VLANs123

A virtual router is a software-based network device that routes packets between different networks or subnets. A virtual router can also create andmanage VLANs, but it is not necessary for a VM to receive a correct IP address.A virtual router can be used to provide additional security, redundancy, or load balancing for the VMs12

A host NIC is a physical network interface card that connects the host machine to the physical network. A host NIC can also support VLAN tagging, which allows the host machine to communicate with different VLANs on the network. However, a host NIC alone cannot ensure that a VM receives a correct IP address for its VLAN.The host NIC needs to be connected to a virtual switch that can relay the DHCP requests from the VMs to the DHCP server12

A VPN is a virtual private network that creates a secure tunnel between two or more devices over the internet. A VPN can be used to encrypt and protect the data traffic of the VMs, but it is not related to the configuration of VLANs or IP addresses.A VPN does not affect how a VM receives a correct IP address for its VLAN14

A vNIC is a virtual network interface card that connects a VM to a virtual switch or a virtual router. A vNIC can also support VLAN tagging, which allows the VM to communicate with different VLANs on the network. However, a vNIC alone cannot ensure that a VM receives a correct IP address for its VLAN.The vNIC needs to be connected to a virtual switch or a virtual router that can relay the DHCP requests from the VMs to the DHCP server12

An out-of-band (OOB) solution is a method of accessing and managing a server remotely without using the network connection or the operating system of the server. An OOB solution can use a dedicated management port, a serial console, or a KVM switch to provide a resilient connection while performing changes to the network configuration of the server. An OOB solution is more reliable than a VNC or RDP console, which depend on the network and the operating system, and more convenient than a crash cart, which requires physical access to the server.

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, asusers 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 andgeographically 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.

The best practice for troubleshooting is to follow a logical and systematic process that involves identifying the problem, establishing a theory of probable cause, testing the theory, establishing a plan of action, implementing the solution, verifying functionality, and documenting findings. Since the problem occurred after a change in the server’s BIOS, the most likely cause is that the change was incompatible or incorrect for the OS. Therefore, the next step should be to reverse the latest change made to the server and reboot to see if that fixes the issue.References: https://www.comptia.org/training/resources/exam-objectives/comptia-server-sk0-005-exam-objectives (Objective 4.3)

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]

GPT (GUID Partition Table) is a partitioning scheme that allows creating partitions on large hard drives (more than 2 TB). It supports up to 128 partitions per drive and uses 64-bit addresses to locate them. However, GPT is not compatible with older versions of Windows, such as Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, which use MBR (Master Boot Record) as the partitioning scheme. If a disk uses GPT, it may not be recognized or accessible by an older Windows server. Verified References: [GPT], [MBR]

Blanking panels are metal or plastic plates that are installed in the empty spaces of a rack to prevent hot air from recirculating back to the front of the rack. This can improve the airflow and cooling efficiency of the rack and reduce the heat generated by the servers. Verified References: [Blanking panel], [Rack cooling]

P2V (Physical to Virtual) is a method of converting a physical server into a virtual machine that can run on a hypervisor. This method can be used to replace 4U rack servers with VMs without losing any data, as it preserves the configuration and state of the original server. P2V can also reduce hardware costs, power consumption, and space requirements. Verified References: [What is P2V?]

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.