Free Practice Questions for Tableau SCA-C01 Exam

To force Tableau Server to require the setup of a new administrator account (e.g., resetting the server to an initial setup state), the tsm reset command is the appropriate tool. This command resets Tableau Server’s administrative configuration, including the TSM administrator account, while preserving content like workbooks and data sources.

Option B (Run the tsm reset command): Correct. Running tsm reset clears the current TSM administrator credentials and configuration settings. The next time you access TSM (e.g., via the web interface or CLI), it prompts you to set up a new administrator account, mimicking the initial setup process. Command: tsm reset --username --password .

Option A (Edit tabsvc.yml): Incorrect. The tabsvc.yml file contains service configuration data, but manually editing it is not supported or recommended for resetting the administrator account. It could also corrupt the installation.

Option C (Run the tsm register command): Incorrect. The tsm register command is used to register Tableau Server with a new product key or identity store, not to reset the administrator account.

Option D (Reinstall Tableau Server): Incorrect. Reinstallation wipes the entire server, including content, and is overkill for this task. The tsm reset command achieves the goal without data loss.

Tableau Server uses a role-based licensing model with three primary license levels: Creator, Explorer, and Viewer. Each license level corresponds to specific site roles that define what users can do on the server.

Viewer License: This is the most restrictive license, allowing users to view and interact with published content (e.g., dashboards and visualizations) but not to create or publish new content.

Site Role: The Viewer license can only be associated with the Viewer site role. This role restricts users to viewing capabilities, aligning with the license’s purpose.

Option A (Creator): Incorrect. The Creator license is for users who can create, edit, and publish content using Tableau Desktop and the web interface. It corresponds to the Creator site role, not Viewer.

Option B (Explorer (can publish)): Incorrect. This is a variation of the Explorer license, which allows users to edit and publish content within limits. It’s more permissive than Viewer.

Option C (Viewer): Correct. The Viewer site role matches the Viewer license level perfectly.

Option D (Explorer): Incorrect. The Explorer license allows users to explore data and create content in the web interface, exceeding the Viewer license’s capabilities.

In Tableau Server, schedules manage tasks like extract refreshes and subscriptions. Each task within a schedule has a priority value (ranging from 1 to 100, where 1 is the highest priority and 100 is the lowest). Tasks with higher priority (lower numbers) are executed before tasks with lower priority (higher numbers) when queued by the Backgrounder process. If the Backgrounder is overloaded or delayed, lower-priority tasks may not complete on time, leading to inconsistent refreshes.

In this scenario:

The 7:00 AM Extract Refresh task is critical for the CEO’s workbook, but the data is only refreshed 70% of the time by 9:00 AM.

The server has a single node, meaning a single Backgrounder process handles all tasks. With five schedules (some overlapping in the early morning), contention or delays could prevent the 7:00 AM task from completing reliably before 9:00 AM.

Option C (Set the priority of this task to 1): Correct. Setting the task priority to 1 ensures it has the highest priority among all queued tasks. This increases the likelihood that the Backgrounder executes it promptly at 7:00 AM, completing the refresh before the CEO accesses the workbook at 9:00 AM. You can adjust task priority in the Tableau Server web interface under Schedules > Tasks > Edit Priority.

Option A (Set the default priority of this schedule to 50): Incorrect. The default priority for schedules is already 50, and this option refers to the schedule’s default, not the specific task. It wouldn’t address the contention issue.

Option B (Set the priority for all other tasks to 50): Incorrect. This keeps all tasks at the default priority (50), leaving the 7:00 AM task without a relative advantage. It doesn’t prioritize the CEO’s task.

Option D (Set the priority of this task to 100): Incorrect. Priority 100 is the lowest, which would deprioritize the task, making the refresh even less reliable.

Tableau Server uses a PostgreSQL database as its repository to store metadata, user information, and permissions. In a high-availability (HA) setup with multiple nodes, there are typically two repository instances: one active and one passive. The "preferred active repository" refers to designating which repository instance should take priority as the active one. This is managed through Tableau Services Manager (TSM).

The correct method to set the preferred active repository is by using the tsm configuration set command. Specifically, you would use a command like:

tsm configuration set -k pgsql.preferred_host -v

This command allows an administrator to specify the preferred host for the active repository, ensuring control over which node takes precedence in an HA environment.

Option B (tabcmd set command) is incorrect because tabcmd is a command-line utility primarily used for administrative tasks like managing users, groups, and content (e.g., publishing workbooks), not for configuring server topology or repository settings.

Option C (TSM browser client's Maintenance page) is incorrect because the Maintenance page in the TSM web interface is used for tasks like backups, restores, and cleanup, but it does not provide an option to set the preferred active repository.

Option D (TSM browser client's Configuration Topology page) is partially relevant since the Topology page displays the current configuration of services across nodes, including the repository. However, it does not allow direct modification of the preferred active repository; this must be done via the tsm command line.

Importing an AD group into Tableau Server syncs user management—let’s analyze the process and options:

AD Group Import Process:

How: In the UI (Users > Groups > Add Group > Active Directory), enter the AD group name, set a site role, and sync.

Behavior:

Existing Users: If a user is already in Tableau Server, their site role remains unchanged unless manually adjusted—sync applies the minimum role only if it upgrades access.

New Users: Added to Tableau with the site role specified during import.

Config: Requires AD authentication enabled in TSM.

Option D (New users created are assigned the site role specified during import): Correct.

Details: When importing (e.g., "SalesTeam" group, site role: Explorer):

New users get Explorer.

Existing users keep their role unless it’s below Explorer (e.g., Unlicensed → Explorer).

Why: Ensures consistent onboarding—new users align with the group’s intended access.

Option A (Existing users’ roles change to match import): Incorrect.

Why: Existing roles persist unless lower than the minimum—e.g., Viewer stays Viewer if import sets Explorer, but Unlicensed upgrades. Not a full overwrite.

Option B (Requires a .csv file): Incorrect.

Why: AD import uses live sync via LDAP—no .csv needed (that’s for local auth imports).

Option C (Change group name during import): Incorrect.

Why: The AD group name is fixed—you can’t rename it in Tableau during sync (it mirrors AD). Post-import renaming is possible but not part of the process.

Why This Matters: Accurate AD sync ensures seamless user management—missteps can disrupt access or licensing.

Backing up Tableau Server ensures recovery from failures or migrations. A full backup includes multiple data types—let’s dissect this comprehensively:

Backup Components:

Repository Data: PostgreSQL database with metadata (users, permissions, workbooks). Backed up via tsm maintenance backup -f .tsbak.

Configuration Data: Server settings (e.g., ports, authentication) also in the .tsbak file.

Server Secrets: Encryption keys, internal tokens, Repository passwords—critical for restoring functionality.

Extracts: .hyper files in File Store (optional, separate backup).

Option A (Server secrets and Repository passwords): Correct.

Details: Includes encryption keys (for extracts), internal tokens (process communication), and Repository credentials. Backed up separately or stored securely (e.g., tsm security export-keys).

Why Critical: Without these, restored data may be inaccessible or services may fail.

Option C (Configuration data): Correct.

Details: Ports, authentication settings, process topology—part of the .tsbak file.

Why Critical: Restores server behavior and connectivity post-recovery.

Option D (Repository data): Correct.

Details: Core metadata database—also in .tsbak.

Why Critical: Without it, all content and user data is lost.

Option B (Topology data): Incorrect.

Details: Topology (process distribution) is part of configuration data in the .tsbak, not a separate entity. It’s not distinctly backed up as “topology data.”

Why This Matters: A complete backup (secrets, config, repository) ensures full restoration—missing any piece risks an unusable server.