CompTIA Server+ (SK0‑005) Practice Exams
About the CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 exam
Exam at a glance
CompTIA's vendor-neutral server administration certification at the intermediate tier, released July 2020 (Server+ V5 officially launched May 18, 2021) — a lifetime credential with no CE renewal required.
Who it's for
Server administrators, datacenter technicians, and IT professionals who install, configure, secure, and maintain physical and virtual servers. Vendor-neutral by design — the skills apply across Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant, Cisco UCS, Lenovo ThinkSystem, and similar enterprise server platforms.
Domain weighting
- Server Hardware Installation and Management: 18%
- Server Administration: 30%
- Security and Disaster Recovery: 24%
- Troubleshooting: 28%
Core technology coverage
- Server hardware — CPU architectures, ECC RAM, RAID levels (0/1/5/6/10), NIC teaming, expansion buses, hot-swap drives, power redundancy, KVM, IPMI/iLO/iDRAC out-of-band management.
- Installation & provisioning — firmware updates, BIOS / UEFI configuration, OS installation (Windows Server, Linux), drivers, post-install hardening.
- Virtualization — Type-1 hypervisors (VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, Linux KVM), guest tools, resource allocation, snapshots vs backups.
- Storage — DAS vs NAS vs SAN, FC vs iSCSI vs NFS vs SMB, snapshots, deduplication, replication.
- Server networking — NIC teaming / bonding, VLAN tagging, server-side firewall configuration.
- Access control — RBAC, Group Policy Objects (GPOs), sudo, principle of least privilege.
- Backup & DR — full / incremental / differential / synthetic-full, GFS rotation, RPO / RTO, BCP, hot / warm / cold sites.
- Troubleshooting — POST diagnostics, hardware self-tests, OS/application log analysis, methodical fault isolation.
Prerequisites
CompTIA recommends A+ certification (or equivalent hardware knowledge) plus approximately two years of hands-on experience in a server environment. No formal prerequisites are enforced — anyone may sit the exam. Prior Network+ knowledge is highly recommended; networking content represents a significant portion of the storage and troubleshooting domains.
Why take this certification
- One of the few lifetime CompTIA credentials. Unlike Security+, Network+, A+, and CySA+ (all CE-renewable every 3 years), Server+ is historically issued under CompTIA's "Good for Life" model — no CEUs, no recertification fees, ever.
- DoD 8140 / 8570 recognized. Server+ is approved for several U.S. Department of Defense IAT and IAM workforce roles, making it valuable for federal contractors and military IT positions.
- Vendor-neutral foundation. The skills validated by Server+ apply equally to Dell, HPE, Cisco UCS, Lenovo, and Supermicro hardware — unlike vendor-specific certifications, your investment carries across employers and refresh cycles.
- Stepping stone to specialization. Server+ provides the on-prem datacenter foundation that pairs naturally with Linux+, Cloud+, and vendor storage / virtualization tracks (VCP-DCV, Red Hat RHCSA).
What you'll learn in the SK0-005 exam
SK0-005 validates that you can deploy, secure, troubleshoot, and recover production server workloads on bare-metal and virtualized infrastructure. Most questions describe a hardware fault, performance issue, or design constraint and ask you to choose the configuration or remediation that fits — performance-based questions (PBQs) frequently ask you to map drives to a RAID level, populate a network configuration, or interpret a system log.
Core domains you'll be tested on
- Server hardware: CPU sockets and architectures, ECC vs non-ECC RAM, RAID 0/1/5/6/10 (parity, performance, fault-tolerance trade-offs), NIC teaming, hot-swap drives, redundant power supplies, KVM, out-of-band management (IPMI, iLO, iDRAC).
- Installation & provisioning: firmware and BIOS/UEFI updates, Windows Server and Linux installation, driver and boot configuration, post-install hardening checklists.
- Virtualization: Type-1 hypervisors (VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, Linux KVM), vCPU and vRAM allocation, virtual networking, snapshots vs backups, P2V/V2V migrations.
- Storage: DAS vs NAS vs SAN topologies; FC vs iSCSI vs NFS vs SMB protocols; LUN provisioning; snapshots, replication, deduplication, thin vs thick provisioning.
- Server networking: NIC teaming and bonding modes (LACP, active/passive), VLAN tagging on the host, host-based firewalls, IPv4 / IPv6 dual-stack basics.
- Security: physical security (locked racks, mantraps), role-based access control, Group Policy Objects (GPOs), sudo and elevated privileges, patch management cadences, hardening baselines.
- Backup & disaster recovery: full, incremental, differential, and synthetic-full backups; GFS (grandfather-father-son) rotation; RPO and RTO definitions; BCP; hot, warm, and cold site selection.
- Troubleshooting: POST and hardware self-tests; OS / application / hypervisor log analysis; systematic fault isolation (CompTIA's six-step troubleshooting model).
Architectural patterns and decisions you'll need to recognize
- Choosing the right RAID level for a workload's IOPS, capacity, and fault-tolerance budget.
- Selecting DAS, NAS, or SAN (and the right protocol on each) for transactional vs file vs block workloads.
- Sizing CPU, RAM, network, and storage for virtualized consolidation ratios.
- Designing a backup schedule that meets a stated RPO with the smallest possible restore time.
- Matching a disaster-recovery posture (backup-restore, pilot light, warm standby, multi-site active-active) to an organization's RTO and budget.
- Diagnosing whether a fault sits in hardware, the OS, the hypervisor, the network, or the application layer.
How the practice exams help
Each free question and every premium exam mirrors the CompTIA scenario-PBQ format — long stem, four to six plausible options, one or more correct, with explanations that cover why distractors fail. Premium content includes drag-and-drop / sequencing items that simulate the on-screen PBQs you'll see in Pearson VUE.
How to prepare for the SK0-005 exam
A successful SK0-005 study plan combines blueprint study, hands-on lab work in real or virtualized server environments, and PBQ rehearsal. Recommended approach:
- Study the four domains (3–4 weeks). Work through the official CompTIA Server+ exam objectives (SK0-005) end-to-end. CompTIA's CertMaster Learn + Practice bundle aligns directly to the blueprint and is the path most candidates use. The CompTIA Server+ Study Guide from Sybex (Troy McMillan) is the most cited third-party text.
- Hands-on labs (3–4 weeks). Stand up Windows Server and a Linux distro (Ubuntu Server or RHEL/Rocky) in your hypervisor of choice — Hyper-V, VMware Workstation, VirtualBox, or VMware ESXi free hypervisor. Practice creating RAID arrays in software, joining a domain, configuring GPOs, mounting iSCSI / NFS / SMB shares, scheduling backups, and intentionally breaking things to practice recovery.
- Drill on PBQ-style scenarios (1–2 weeks). Performance-based questions are weighted heavily in scoring. Practice mapping drives to RAID levels, ordering troubleshooting steps, and matching network/storage configurations to scenarios. Premium practice exams include PBQ-format items.
- Timed full-length practice tests (1–2 weeks). Take complete timed exams to identify weak domains. Aim for consistent 80%+ scores on full-length tests before scheduling. Use detailed explanations to understand the reasoning behind each correct answer rather than memorizing.
Recommended timeline
8–12 weeks of focused study (10–15 hours per week) for IT professionals with prior server-administration exposure. Career-changers or candidates without server lab time should allow 12–16 weeks. Passing CompTIA A+ and Network+ first is strongly recommended — Server+ assumes you already understand basic networking, storage, and OS concepts.
Official resources
Download the latest SK0-005 exam objectives PDF from the official CompTIA Server+ certification page. CompTIA's CertMaster Learn e-learning is the most directly blueprint-aligned official prep, and the CompTIA store often bundles voucher + CertMaster + retake insurance at a discount versus buying separately.
Frequently asked questions
Are these actual exam questions?
No. All Nex Arc CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 practice questions are original content based on the provider's published exam blueprint, official documentation, and real-world scenarios across every topic the exam covers. We do not offer brain dumps, leaked questions, or actual exam content. Using or distributing real exam questions violates certification provider agreements and can result in certification revocation.
How many questions are in the CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 exam?
The CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 exam contains a maximum of 90 questions delivered in 90 minutes. The format mixes traditional multiple choice (single and multi-response) with performance-based questions (PBQs) that simulate real server-administration tasks such as RAID configuration, drive lettering, and log interpretation.
What's the SK0-005 passing score?
The passing score is 750 on a scale of 100-900. CompTIA uses scaled scoring, so not every question carries equal weight — performance-based questions generally count more than multiple choice. Aim for consistent 80%+ on practice tests before scheduling.
How do I access the full SK0-005 practice exam?
Click on the Buy Now button in the sidebar to purchase the complete CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 course. After payment, you'll have instant access to 12 practice exams with detailed explanations and lifetime access.
What are the prerequisites for the SK0-005 exam?
There are no formal prerequisites for Server+. CompTIA recommends CompTIA A+ certification (or equivalent foundational hardware knowledge) plus approximately two years of hands-on experience working in a server environment. Prior CompTIA Network+ knowledge is also strongly helpful because the exam covers NIC teaming, VLAN tagging, and storage networking (iSCSI, FC, NFS, SMB). Motivated candidates without the recommended experience can still pass with 8-12 weeks of structured study and lab work.
How long is the SK0-005 certification valid?
CompTIA Server+ is one of CompTIA's lifetime credentials — historically issued under the "Good for Life" model without expiration and without a CE (Continuing Education) renewal requirement. Unlike Security+, Network+, A+, and CySA+ (all CE-renewable every 3 years), Server+ does not require CEUs or a retake to remain valid. CompTIA may revise this policy on future Server+ versions, so always confirm on the official certification page when you sit the exam.
What's the exam cost and can I retake it if I fail?
The SK0-005 exam list price is $369 USD (converted to local currency in other regions). Delivery is through Pearson VUE at testing centers or via online proctoring. If you fail the first attempt you can retake immediately with no mandatory waiting period; a third attempt and beyond requires a 14-day wait between tries. Each attempt requires a new voucher purchase. Discount vouchers are often available via CompTIA Academic partners, CompTIA's own bundle deals (voucher + CertMaster Learn + retake insurance), and certain workforce programs.
Which topics dominate the SK0-005 exam?
The blueprint splits across four domains: Server Hardware Installation and Management (18%), Server Administration (30%), Security and Disaster Recovery (24%), and Troubleshooting (28%). Heavily weighted topics include RAID levels (0/1/5/6/10), backup strategies (full / incremental / differential / synthetic-full and GFS rotation), disaster-recovery planning (RPO, RTO, hot/warm/cold sites), virtualization concepts (Type-1 hypervisors), storage protocols (DAS/NAS/SAN, iSCSI vs FC vs NFS vs SMB), access control (RBAC, GPOs, sudo), patching, and systematic hardware/OS/network troubleshooting.
Has CompTIA Server+ SK0-006 been announced?
As of May 2026 the current Server+ exam is SK0-005 (Server+ V5), launched May 18, 2021. CompTIA has not publicly announced an SK0-006 successor and the SK0-005 retirement date is not posted on the official certification page. CompTIA typically refreshes its core certifications every 3-4 years, so a successor exam is plausible — but until CompTIA publishes a retirement date with at least 6-12 months of overlap, SK0-005 remains the only path to the credential. Always confirm at comptia.org before scheduling.
Can I retake the SK0-005 exam if I fail?
Yes. CompTIA imposes no waiting period between the first and second attempt — you can rebook immediately if you fail your first try. Starting with the third attempt, CompTIA enforces a mandatory 14-day waiting period between tries. Each attempt requires a new $369 voucher unless you purchased a retake-insurance bundle.