ACMT Storage & Memory 2

Question 1

Which command in macOS Terminal displays information about all APFS volumes and their container structure?

Accepted Answer

diskutil apfs list

Answer

'diskutil apfs list' shows all APFS containers, their volumes, sizes, roles, and capacities, essential for diagnosing complex APFS configurations.

Question 2

What is a 'Time Machine local snapshot' in APFS?

Accepted Answer

An APFS snapshot stored on the local disk allowing recovery of deleted files even without a backup drive connected

Answer

Time Machine creates APFS local snapshots on the startup drive that allow file recovery even when the backup drive is not connected, leveraging APFS's native snapshot capability.

Question 3

A technician notices a Mac's SSD shows 'Verified' in Disk Utility but SMART status shows 'Failing.' What should they do?

Accepted Answer

Immediately back up the customer's data and replace the SSD

Answer

A SMART 'Failing' status indicates the drive is predicting its own imminent failure; backing up data immediately and replacing the SSD is the correct response.

Question 4

Which macOS feature encrypts the entire startup volume and requires a recovery key or Apple ID to access it?

Accepted Answer

FileVault

Answer

FileVault uses XTS-AES-128 encryption to encrypt the full startup volume, requiring a password and recovery key to access the data.

Question 5

During a Mac repair, a technician needs to access files on an encrypted FileVault drive. The customer cannot remember their password. What is the procedure?

Accepted Answer

Use the FileVault recovery key associated with the customer's Apple ID to unlock the drive

Answer

The FileVault recovery key, stored by the user or in escrow with Apple, is the only legitimate way to unlock a FileVault-encrypted drive when the password is forgotten.

ACMT - Apple Certified Macintosh Technician Practice Test

ACMT - Apple Certified Macintosh Technician Practice Test

ACMT Storage & Memory 2