EX436 Sample Questions & Answers
Tests your grasp of shared and clustered storage with GFS2 filesystems, failover constraints for highly available resource groups, STONITH fencing configuration and validation, cluster logging, and monitoring with alerts and notifications.
Launch the full EX436 simulator →Showing 6 of 12 free samples.
- Question 1Intermediate
Configure a high-availability cluster · Configure cluster quorum options
True or False: In a standard 3-node RHEL HA cluster without a qdevice, if two nodes fail simultaneously, the single remaining node will maintain quorum and continue running resources because it is the 'last man standing'.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
False. By default, standard votequorum requires a strict majority (>50% of total votes) to operate. In a 3-node cluster, 2 votes are required for quorum. If two nodes fail, the single remaining node has only 1 vote and will lose quorum, stopping all resources to prevent data corruption.
- Question 2Beginner
Configure a high-availability cluster · Install and bootstrap the cluster
You need to completely wipe out an existing Pacemaker/Corosync cluster configuration on a node and return it to a clean state. Select the correct sub-command to complete this operation:
pcs cluster _____Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
The
pcs cluster destroycommand permanently removes the cluster configuration files (like corosync.conf) and stops the cluster services, effectively wiping the node's cluster state. - Question 3Beginner
Configure cluster fencing · STONITH / fencing
What is the primary architectural purpose of configuring STONITH (Shoot The Other Node In The Head) in a Red Hat High Availability cluster?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
STONITH (fencing) is the only definitive way to ensure a non-responsive node is actually powered off or physically disconnected. This guarantees it cannot write to shared storage, thereby preventing split-brain data corruption.
- Question 4IntermediateSelect 2
Configure cluster fencing · fence_ipmilan mechanism
You are configuring a single
fence_ipmilanSTONITH device to manage the power for bothnode1andnode2in your cluster. Which TWO parameters are critical to correctly map the cluster node names to their respective IPMI IP addresses or hostnames? (Select TWO)Show answer & explanation
Correct answers: C, D
The
pcmk_host_mapparameter is used to map the logical Pacemaker node names to the specific IP addresses or hostnames of their IPMI interfaces (e.g.,node1:192.168.1.101;node2:192.168.1.102).The
pcmk_host_listparameter defines which cluster nodes this specific STONITH device is capable of fencing. It is required so the cluster knows this device can fence both node1 and node2. - Question 5Advanced
Configure cluster fencing · Any member can fence any other
A physical server (Node A) in your cluster is equipped with redundant power supplies connected to two separate Power Distribution Units (PDU1 and PDU2). To successfully fence Node A, BOTH power supplies must be turned off simultaneously.
How do you configure the fencing topology to achieve this requirement using
pcs?flowchart LR NodeA[Node A Failed] -->|Fencing Request| PDU1[PDU 1] NodeA -->|Fencing Request| PDU2[PDU 2] PDU1 -->|Level 1: AND| PowerOff[Node A Powered Off] PDU2 -->|Level 1: AND| PowerOffShow answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
By placing multiple STONITH devices in the same level separated by a comma (
PDU1,PDU2), you create a logical 'AND' relationship. The cluster will execute the fence action on BOTH devices simultaneously to successfully fence the node. - Question 6Intermediate
Configure cluster fencing · Test fencing with standard tools
After configuring a new STONITH device, you want to manually verify that the cluster can successfully execute a fencing action against
node2. Which command securely triggers this test through the Pacemaker infrastructure?Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
The
pcs stonith fencecommand is the standard and safest way to manually test fencing. It requests Pacemaker to fence the target node using the configured STONITH topology, verifying the entire fencing stack.
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