2V0-21.23: VMware vSphere 8.x Professional Exam Practice Test
Prepare to become a certified VMware vSphere 8.x Professional with Exam Sage’s comprehensive practice exam—your key to mastering VMware’s industry-leading virtualization platform.
What Is the VMware 2V0-21.23 Certification Exam?
The 2V0-21.23: VMware vSphere 8.x Professional Exam is a globally recognized certification designed for IT professionals seeking to validate their skills in deploying, managing, and optimizing VMware vSphere 8.x environments. This certification proves your expertise in virtualization, infrastructure management, and cloud computing solutions, making you a valuable asset to any organization relying on VMware technologies.
Achieving this certification demonstrates your ability to efficiently manage virtualized data centers, automate infrastructure, and troubleshoot vSphere environments—crucial skills in today’s cloud-driven IT landscape.
What You Will Learn
By preparing for the 2V0-21.23 exam with Exam Sage, you’ll gain hands-on knowledge and practical skills that cover the latest features and functionalities of VMware vSphere 8.x, including:
Installation, configuration, and management of VMware ESXi hosts and vCenter Server.
Efficient deployment and management of virtual machines and resource pools.
Advanced networking and storage configuration within vSphere.
Implementing and managing vSphere security and permissions.
Optimizing performance and troubleshooting common issues.
Understanding and utilizing vSphere lifecycle management tools.
Automating vSphere tasks using PowerCLI and other scripting tools.
Applying best practices for backup, recovery, and high availability.
Key Topics Covered in This Practice Exam
The Exam Sage 2V0-21.23 practice exam is carefully aligned with VMware’s official exam objectives to give you thorough coverage of all essential topics, including:
vSphere Architecture and Technologies
Installation and Upgrades of ESXi and vCenter Server
Virtual Machine Management and Resource Allocation
vSphere Networking and Storage
Security Features and Role-Based Access Control
Monitoring, Performance Optimization, and Troubleshooting
High Availability, Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), and Fault Tolerance
Backup and Recovery Strategies
Automation and Scripting with PowerCLI
vSphere Lifecycle and Patch Management
Each question is paired with detailed explanations, helping you understand not only the correct answers but the reasoning behind them—critical for exam success and real-world application.
Why Choose Exam Sage for Your VMware Exam Prep?
Exam Sage is a trusted leader in IT certification preparation, offering practice exams that are:
✅ Accurately aligned with VMware’s latest 2V0-21.23 exam blueprint.
✅ Written by experienced VMware professionals for real-world relevance.
✅ Loaded with detailed answer explanations to deepen your understanding.
✅ Available for instant download so you can start studying immediately.
✅ Designed to boost your confidence with exam-like question formats.
✅ Regularly updated to reflect VMware vSphere’s latest features and best practices.
Who Should Use This Practice Exam?
This practice test is ideal for:
IT professionals aiming to become VMware Certified Professionals (VCP).
System administrators managing VMware environments.
Virtualization engineers and consultants.
Anyone preparing for the VMware vSphere 8.x Professional Certification Exam.
Individuals seeking to enhance their VMware skills for career advancement.
Achieve Your VMware Certification Goals with Exam Sage
The VMware 2V0-21.23 exam challenges your technical knowledge and practical skills. With Exam Sage’s comprehensive practice exam, you’ll be fully prepared to pass the certification on your first attempt. Strengthen your VMware expertise and accelerate your IT career with trusted, high-quality exam preparation from Exam Sage.
Start your journey to VMware vSphere 8.x Professional certification today!
Sample Questions and Answers
1. What is the primary purpose of the vSphere Distributed Services Engine introduced in vSphere 8?
A. Manage distributed switches centrally
B. Enhance host profile enforcement
C. Offload networking and security processing to a DPU
D. Enable DRS in stretched clusters
Answer: C
Explanation: The vSphere Distributed Services Engine offloads network and security services to a Data Processing Unit (DPU), freeing up CPU resources on the ESXi host.
2. Which feature is required for enabling vSphere Lifecycle Manager Image-Based Updates in vSphere 8.x?
A. vSphere with Tanzu
B. vSphere HA
C. vCenter Server
D. NSX-T
Answer: C
Explanation: vSphere Lifecycle Manager requires vCenter Server to manage image-based host updates.
3. What improvement does vSphere 8 bring to vMotion for large workloads?
A. Supports up to 16 vCPUs
B. Introduces zero-downtime migration for workloads with >16 vCPUs
C. Delays memory page copying
D. Offers GPU-aware migration
Answer: B
Explanation: vSphere 8 significantly enhances vMotion performance, especially for large VMs, by optimizing memory handling and minimizing downtime.
4. Which component is mandatory for enabling the vSphere Distributed Services Engine?
A. SmartNIC with DPU support
B. vSAN enabled
C. vCenter Enhanced Link Mode
D. vSphere with Kubernetes
Answer: A
Explanation: A SmartNIC (or DPU-enabled NIC) is essential for using the vSphere Distributed Services Engine.
5. In vSphere 8.x, what is the maximum number of hosts per cluster with vSAN enabled?
A. 32
B. 64
C. 128
D. 96
Answer: C
Explanation: vSphere 8 increases the maximum number of hosts per cluster with vSAN to 128.
6. What is the role of vSphere Configuration Profiles in vSphere 8.x?
A. Replaces Host Profiles completely
B. Provides centralized management for vSAN nodes
C. Enables desired-state configuration for clusters
D. Manages firmware updates
Answer: C
Explanation: vSphere Configuration Profiles allow administrators to define and enforce a desired configuration state across all ESXi hosts in a cluster.
7. What prerequisite is needed to enable vSphere Lifecycle Manager Image-Based Updates?
A. All hosts must be using standard switches
B. Hosts must be part of a vSAN cluster
C. All hosts must be version 7.0 or higher
D. Hosts must not be in maintenance mode
Answer: C
Explanation: Image-based updates in vSphere Lifecycle Manager require all ESXi hosts to be running version 7.0 or later.
8. Which of the following is a benefit of the vSphere 8.x Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) integration?
A. Enables DPU-based workload offloading
B. Offers built-in vRealize Automation
C. Provides integrated GPU monitoring
D. Simplifies management of Kubernetes workloads
Answer: D
Explanation: TKG integration in vSphere 8.x simplifies the deployment and management of Kubernetes workloads using vSphere.
9. What is the default encryption method used in vSphere 8 for VM encryption?
A. AES-128
B. AES-256 XTS
C. RSA-2048
D. Blowfish
Answer: B
Explanation: vSphere VM encryption uses AES-256 in XTS mode, ensuring high levels of data protection.
10. What condition will cause a vSphere HA failover to occur in vSphere 8?
A. vMotion fails
B. A host becomes isolated or fails
C. A DRS imbalance
D. A vSAN disk group is degraded
Answer: B
Explanation: vSphere HA is triggered when a host fails or becomes isolated from the rest of the cluster.
11. Which vSphere 8 component is responsible for defining and applying desired state configurations to a cluster?
A. vSAN
B. Host Profiles
C. vSphere Configuration Profiles
D. DRS
Answer: C
Explanation: vSphere Configuration Profiles ensure that all hosts in a cluster adhere to a consistent configuration.
12. Which of the following features does vSphere 8 improve in terms of GPU support?
A. GPU auto-scaling
B. GPU sharing via vGPU
C. GPU live migration
D. AI-based GPU scheduling
Answer: C
Explanation: vSphere 8 introduces improved support for GPU live migration, allowing better flexibility and resource management.
13. What is the main advantage of using a DPU in vSphere 8 environments?
A. Lower VM provisioning time
B. Enhanced vSAN replication
C. Offloading NSX services from CPU
D. Automatic license assignment
Answer: C
Explanation: DPUs in vSphere offload NSX network and security functions from the CPU to free up system resources.
14. What feature enables vSphere 8 to handle hardware compatibility more efficiently during upgrades?
A. vCenter Linked Mode
B. Update Planner
C. Host Profiles
D. Quick Boot
Answer: B
Explanation: Update Planner assists in pre-checking hardware compatibility during upgrade planning.
15. What is required for enabling vSphere Quick Boot in vSphere 8?
A. TPM 2.0
B. Compatible server BIOS
C. Dual CPU sockets
D. Secure Boot disabled
Answer: B
Explanation: Quick Boot requires BIOS compatibility and supported hardware that allows for a partial restart without full hardware reinitialization.
16. Which component does vSphere 8 rely on for workload placement decisions?
A. DRS
B. HA
C. NSX
D. TPM
Answer: A
Explanation: vSphere DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler) is responsible for automatic workload placement and balancing across the cluster.
17. What feature allows ESXi 8 hosts to recover from firmware mismatches post-upgrade?
A. Host Remediation
B. Host Baseline Rollback
C. Firmware Sync Manager
D. Desired Image Drift Remediation
Answer: D
Explanation: vSphere Lifecycle Manager’s image-based updates include drift remediation to detect and correct configuration or firmware mismatches.
18. What network requirement must be in place for enabling vSphere HA?
A. NFS datastore
B. Shared disk for quorum
C. vMotion network
D. Management network redundancy
Answer: D
Explanation: For vSphere HA to function reliably, the management network must be redundant to ensure connectivity in the event of failure.
19. What does DRS in vSphere 8 use to determine optimal host placement?
A. Static load thresholds
B. Real-time host utilization metrics
C. Round-robin assignment
D. VM templates
Answer: B
Explanation: DRS in vSphere 8 uses real-time metrics to evaluate workload demands and determine optimal placement.
20. What is a key advantage of using VM Encryption in vSphere 8?
A. Prevents guest OS data corruption
B. Protects VM data at rest and in motion
C. Automatically deletes data after 30 days
D. Reduces VM overhead
Answer: B
Explanation: VM Encryption secures data at rest (on disk) and in motion (during vMotion).
21. Which service is mandatory for using vSphere Lifecycle Manager Image-Based Management?
A. NSX Manager
B. vCenter Server
C. SRM
D. vRealize Operations
Answer: B
Explanation: Image-Based Management via vSphere Lifecycle Manager requires vCenter Server for managing and deploying host images.
22. What vSphere 8 feature supports a declarative model for cluster configuration?
A. Host Baseline Profiles
B. vSphere Configuration Profiles
C. Auto Deploy Rules
D. Advanced DRS Settings
Answer: B
Explanation: Configuration Profiles let you specify the desired state, which the cluster will automatically attempt to match.
23. Which of the following is a benefit of enabling vSAN ESA (Express Storage Architecture)?
A. Supports fewer disk groups per host
B. Requires fewer write buffers
C. Improves performance with fewer nodes
D. Replaces stretched clustering
Answer: C
Explanation: ESA improves performance and efficiency, particularly in small clusters, by optimizing I/O and storage structure.
24. In vSphere 8.x, what is a primary function of the DRS Scalable Shares feature?
A. Dynamic memory allocation
B. Adjusts VM shares based on cluster size
C. Live storage migration
D. GPU load balancing
Answer: B
Explanation: Scalable Shares in DRS dynamically adjust VM resource shares based on cluster-wide context.
25. Which logging tool is built into vSphere 8 for centralized log collection?
A. Log Forwarder
B. vRealize Log Insight
C. vSphere Syslog Collector
D. VMware Aria Operations
Answer: C
Explanation: vSphere Syslog Collector is used for gathering and centralizing logs from ESXi hosts.
26. What new security measure does vSphere 8 offer for VM workloads?
A. Encrypted vMotion only
B. Encrypted disk images
C. Confidential Computing using AMD SEV-SNP
D. Blockchain-based auditing
Answer: C
Explanation: vSphere 8 introduces support for AMD SEV-SNP to enable confidential computing by protecting VMs from unauthorized access.
27. What does “vSphere Native Key Provider” allow in vSphere 8?
A. Eliminates the need for third-party KMS
B. Enables biometric login
C. Encrypts vSAN natively
D. Manages ESXi root password
Answer: A
Explanation: The Native Key Provider allows VM and vSAN encryption without requiring an external key management server.
28. What is the maximum supported number of vCPUs per VM in vSphere 8?
A. 128
B. 256
C. 512
D. 768
Answer: D
Explanation: vSphere 8 supports up to 768 virtual CPUs per VM.
29. Which feature enhances the availability of vSphere vMotion in multi-NIC environments?
A. vSphere Replication
B. NIC teaming
C. vMotion Load Balancing
D. Multi-NIC vMotion
Answer: D
Explanation: Multi-NIC vMotion allows for higher throughput and reliability by using multiple physical NICs.
30. What new license model was introduced with vSphere 8 for some features?
A. Core-based licensing
B. DRS credit licensing
C. Subscription-based licensing
D. Free perpetual licensing
Answer: C
Explanation: VMware is shifting toward a subscription-based licensing model with vSphere 8 for flexibility and cost management.
31. What is the primary purpose of VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler)?
A. To provide automatic failover in the event of host failure
B. To distribute virtual machine workloads across hosts for performance optimization
C. To perform automated patching of ESXi hosts
D. To back up virtual machines regularly
Answer: B
Explanation: VMware DRS dynamically balances computing workloads with available resources in a vSphere cluster, optimizing performance by migrating VMs using vMotion.
32. Which feature allows a vSphere administrator to control overcommitment of CPU resources per virtual machine?
A. Shares
B. Reservations
C. Limits
D. Affinity Rules
Answer: C
Explanation: Limits restrict the maximum amount of CPU or memory a VM can use, even if more is available, controlling resource overcommitment.
33. Which of the following components is required to use vSphere Lifecycle Manager for cluster image management?
A. vCenter Server
B. vRealize Operations
C. NSX Manager
D. vSAN
Answer: A
Explanation: vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) is integrated into vCenter Server and used to manage ESXi host lifecycle operations across clusters.
34. What type of VM file contains the virtual machine’s BIOS and configuration information?
A. .vmdk
B. .nvram
C. .vmx
D. .log
Answer: C
Explanation: The .vmx file stores the configuration of the VM, including hardware settings, boot options, and resource allocation.
35. Which storage protocol uses Ethernet to carry SCSI commands?
A. NFS
B. iSCSI
C. FC
D. FCoE
Answer: B
Explanation: iSCSI uses TCP/IP over Ethernet to transport SCSI commands, allowing access to remote storage devices.
36. What vSphere feature enables the protection of workloads by replicating VMs between sites?
A. vMotion
B. DRS
C. vSphere Replication
D. vSAN
Answer: C
Explanation: vSphere Replication enables replication of VMs across sites for disaster recovery and workload protection.
37. Which log file provides detailed information about the ESXi host startup process?
A. /var/log/vmkernel.log
B. /var/log/hostd.log
C. /var/log/syslog.log
D. /var/log/boot.gz
Answer: D
Explanation: /var/log/boot.gz contains compressed boot logs that capture ESXi host startup processes and any boot-related errors.
38. What is a benefit of using VM Encryption in vSphere 8.x?
A. Encrypts vCenter Server
B. Encrypts entire ESXi host
C. Provides end-to-end data encryption for virtual machines
D. Encrypts traffic between virtual machines
Answer: C
Explanation: VM Encryption encrypts VM files such as .vmdk and .vmx, ensuring data confidentiality and protection against unauthorized access.
39. What role does a content library serve in a vSphere environment?
A. Stores VM performance logs
B. Hosts ESXi image builds
C. Centralized repository for VM templates, ISO images, and scripts
D. Backup location for vCenter Server
Answer: C
Explanation: Content libraries allow for consistent management and deployment of VM templates, ISO files, and scripts across vSphere environments.
40. What tool is used to collect diagnostic data for troubleshooting from an ESXi host?
A. vSphere Replication
B. vSphere Client
C. ESXCLI
D. vm-support
Answer: D
Explanation: vm-support generates a support bundle with logs and configuration files useful for advanced diagnostics and VMware support.
41. Which feature in vSphere 8.x provides policy-based storage management?
A. Storage DRS
B. Storage I/O Control
C. SPBM (Storage Policy-Based Management)
D. vSAN Encryption
Answer: C
Explanation: SPBM allows administrators to define storage requirements in policies that vSphere automatically applies and enforces.
42. In vSphere, what does “VMware Tools” provide?
A. VM file encryption
B. Backup and recovery features
C. Improved VM performance and management
D. Licensing for virtual machines
Answer: C
Explanation: VMware Tools enhances VM performance and enables features such as time synchronization, heartbeat monitoring, and improved driver support.
43. What condition triggers proactive HA (High Availability) response?
A. Host power failure
B. VM misconfiguration
C. Degraded host health (e.g., hardware sensor alert)
D. VM resource overcommitment
Answer: C
Explanation: Proactive HA moves VMs from a host that has health issues (such as a failing power supply) before it fails completely.
44. Which configuration allows vMotion between two hosts with different CPU models?
A. EVC (Enhanced vMotion Compatibility)
B. DRS
C. Fault Tolerance
D. vSphere Replication
Answer: A
Explanation: EVC masks CPU features to enable vMotion between hosts with different CPU generations, as long as they are from the same vendor.
45. What is the default path selection policy for most VMware-supported storage arrays?
A. Most Recently Used (MRU)
B. Round Robin (RR)
C. Fixed
D. Least Queue Depth (LQD)
Answer: C
Explanation: The Fixed policy uses a designated preferred path for storage access unless it becomes unavailable.
46. What type of virtual switch is automatically created on an ESXi host installation?
A. vSphere Distributed Switch
B. NSX-T Logical Switch
C. vSphere Standard Switch
D. Content Switch
Answer: C
Explanation: A vSphere Standard Switch is automatically created on each ESXi host during installation for basic network connectivity.
47. Which vSphere component is responsible for managing host agents?
A. ESXCLI
B. vCenter Server
C. vSphere Replication
D. vSAN
Answer: B
Explanation: vCenter Server manages host agents such as hostd and vpxa, which coordinate communication between vCenter and ESXi.
48. What does “host affinity rule” control in DRS?
A. The direction of storage replication
B. VM access to CPU resources
C. Whether VMs stay together or apart on hosts
D. Network traffic shaping rules
Answer: C
Explanation: Host affinity rules ensure that specified VMs either stay on the same host (affinity) or are kept on separate hosts (anti-affinity).
49. What is the role of a snapshot in VMware vSphere?
A. To replicate VMs across clusters
B. To provide a point-in-time backup of a VM
C. To increase VM performance
D. To encrypt VM files
Answer: B
Explanation: Snapshots capture the state of a VM at a specific moment, including disk and memory state, useful for testing and rollback.
50. Which of the following can be migrated using vMotion?
A. VM storage only
B. Powered-off VM
C. Running VM with no downtime
D. Only VM templates
Answer: C
Explanation: vMotion enables live migration of running VMs with no service interruption.
51. Which ESXi component handles command-line administration?
A. vpxa
B. hostd
C. ESXCLI
D. VIB
Answer: C
Explanation: ESXCLI provides a comprehensive command-line interface for configuration and administration of ESXi hosts.
52. What is a VIB in VMware architecture?
A. A backup utility
B. A type of virtual switch
C. A package used to install software on an ESXi host
D. A VM replication log
Answer: C
Explanation: A VIB (vSphere Installation Bundle) contains software components (e.g., drivers or agents) that can be installed on ESXi hosts.
53. What type of datastore is created by default with vSAN?
A. NFS
B. VMFS
C. vSAN
D. iSCSI
Answer: C
Explanation: A vSAN datastore is automatically created when vSAN is enabled on a cluster, pooling local storage across hosts.
54. What port must be open for vSphere Web Client (HTML5)?
A. 80
B. 902
C. 443
D. 9443
Answer: C
Explanation: The vSphere Web Client uses HTTPS, which operates over port 443 for secure access.
55. What is the maximum number of vCPUs per VM in vSphere 8.x (Enterprise Plus)?
A. 64
B. 128
C. 256
D. 768
Answer: C
Explanation: vSphere 8.x supports up to 256 vCPUs per VM in the Enterprise Plus edition, suitable for high-performance workloads.
56. What VMware feature ensures data locality in a vSAN cluster?
A. Storage I/O Control
B. vMotion
C. Object Placement Service
D. NIOC
Answer: C
Explanation: The Object Placement Service ensures data is stored optimally across the vSAN cluster, maintaining locality and compliance with policies.
57. Which of the following is a requirement for vSphere Fault Tolerance?
A. Shared iSCSI storage
B. Compatible CPU and identical VM configuration
C. Host with NSX-T
D. Snapshot enabled VMs
Answer: B
Explanation: vSphere Fault Tolerance requires VMs with identical configuration and CPUs that support FT features (such as vLockstep).
58. What is a prerequisite to enable vSphere High Availability (HA)?
A. vSphere Standard license
B. Dedicated backup VLAN
C. Shared datastore
D. DRS enabled
Answer: C
Explanation: For HA to restart VMs on other hosts during failure, it needs access to shared datastores where the VMs reside.
59. What command allows you to reboot an ESXi host from CLI safely?
A. reboot -f
B. poweroff
C. esxcli system shutdown reboot -r “Reason”
D. shutdown -r now
Answer: C
Explanation: This esxcli command allows safe rebooting of the host with an optional reason tag, ensuring logs are captured.
60. What determines if a VM is compatible with a specific host in a cluster?
A. Datastore type
B. Host name
C. VM Compatibility Level
D. DRS rule settings
Answer: C
Explanation: The VM Compatibility Level defines the virtual hardware version, which must be supported by the ESXi host for the VM to run.
