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SK0-005 Exam Guide: Server+ Skills, Labs and 8-Week Plan
Direct answer: CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005) covers server hardware, administration, security, disaster recovery and troubleshooting. Our voucher costs $224.99, covers one attempt and arrives by email within 12 hours. Plan about 8 weeks at 5 to 6 hours a week, with hands-on labs, not video alone.
CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005) is a server administration certification, and the training path for it needs no prior experience. Our SK0-005 voucher costs $224.99 (USD, as listed on 2026-11-11) and covers one exam attempt. A realistic plan is about 8 weeks at 5 to 6 hours a week.
Before you book, check the exam length, question count, passing score and list price on CompTIA's SK0-005 exam page, because we only quote what we can verify.
Who the SK0-005 exam is for
Server+ fits people who run, fix or support servers. Help desk, desktop support and junior system administration roles are typical examples of where people start, though that is a general pattern rather than a rule.
Pluralsight's CompTIA Server (SK0-005) path calls Server+ "a great start" for a server-related certification. It lists No prior experience is required as the prerequisite. Its related topics are System Engineering, Network Administration, IT Professional, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA A+.
No experience required does not mean no practice. You will pass faster if you have touched a real or virtual server.
Skills to cover, grouped by topic
The Pluralsight path lists 25 learning outcomes. They fall into five groups you can plan around.
Hardware and storage: install physical hardware, deploy and manage server storage, perform hardware maintenance.
Operating systems and services: install server operating systems, configure network services, configure and maintain server functions and features.
Availability and operations: high availability, virtualization, basic scripting, asset management and documentation, licensing concepts.
Security and recovery: data security concepts, physical security, identity and access management, data security risks, server hardening, decommissioning, backups and restores, disaster recovery.
Troubleshooting: theory and methodology, hardware failures, storage problems, OS and software problems, network connectivity, security problems.
The path is delivered as four courses, about 20 hours in total, plus a practice exam.
Course | Length | Published |
|---|---|---|
Server Management: Server Hardware Installation and Management | 10h 25m | May 13, 2021 |
Server Management: Server Administration | 4h 8m | Apr 16, 2021 |
Server Management: Security and Disaster Recovery | 2h 34m | Jun 08, 2021 |
Server Management: Troubleshooting | 2h 43m | May 19, 2021 |
These courses date from 2021. Use them as a base and match your notes against CompTIA's current exam objectives.
What our voucher includes
The terms below come from our store policy. Full details are on our refund page and delivery page.
Item | Detail |
|---|---|
Our price | $224.99 USD |
Coverage | One voucher, one exam attempt |
Delivery | Emailed within 12 hours of payment, also shown in your account |
Cancel before delivery | Full refund |
After delivery | Non-refundable, unless the test provider rejects the code as invalid, already used or expired on first use |
If a code is rejected | Contact support within 14 days with your order number and a screenshot. The code is replaced or refunded |
On redemption, use the code exactly as delivered and keep your order number handy. Take a screenshot of any rejection message before you close the page.
An 8-week study plan at 5 to 6 hours a week
This plan totals about 47 hours. Move faster if you already work with servers. Add a week if you are new to storage or networking.
Week | Focus | Hours |
|---|---|---|
1 | Hardware course, first half. Name components and RAID ideas in your own words | 6 |
2 | Hardware course, second half. Storage, maintenance, OS installs | 6 |
3 | Server Administration course, plus a virtual machine lab | 6 |
4 | Security and Disaster Recovery course. Write a one-page backup and restore plan | 6 |
5 | Troubleshooting course. Practice the method on broken lab setups | 6 |
6 | Labs: networking, services, scripting basics | 6 |
7 | Practice exam, then review every wrong answer | 6 |
8 | Weak areas, second practice exam, book the exam | 5 |
The Pluralsight path offers a free individual trial, which can cover the video courses and the practice exam while you decide.
Worked example: a server that cannot reach the network
Troubleshooting is a full topic in the path, and it rewards a fixed routine. Work from the bottom up: cable and link, then address, then gateway, then name resolution, then service.
On a Linux lab server, replace <service> with the failing service. The SSH service is sshd on many distributions and ssh on Debian and Ubuntu.
ip link show
ip addr show
ip route
ping -c 3 <gateway-ip>
resolvectl status
systemctl status <service>
journalctl -xeOn a Windows lab server:
Get-NetAdapter
ipconfig /all
Test-NetConnection <gateway-ip>
Resolve-DnsName example.com
Get-ServiceBreak things on purpose: unplug a virtual NIC, set a wrong gateway, stop a service. Then fix each one and write down the first command that revealed the problem. That habit is what scenario questions test.
Common mistakes to avoid
Watching videos only. Passive study fades fast. Build at least one virtual machine and break it.
Skipping hardware. People with software backgrounds often underestimate RAID, power and cooling topics.
Ignoring documentation and licensing. Asset management and licensing concepts are on the outcomes list. They are easy points if you study them.
Relying on 2021 course material alone. Compare your notes against CompTIA's current objectives.
Memorizing practice answers. Learn why an answer is right, or a reworded question will beat you.
Booking before you score well. Take the exam when you pass practice tests comfortably, not when the plan ends.
What to do after you pass
Server+ pairs well with the related topics Pluralsight lists: Network+, Security+ and A+. If your servers run Linux, look at CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 next. You can also browse our Linux and server administration certifications.
Add the credential to your resume and your professional profile. Then keep a home lab running so your skills stay current.
Ready to book? Get your SK0-005 CompTIA Server+ voucher for $224.99.
Sources
Questions about this topic
Do I need work experience before starting Server+ prep?
The Pluralsight path lists no prior experience as a prerequisite. Even so, hands-on time with a virtual server makes the scenario questions much easier. Build a small lab in your first week.
Is 20 hours of video enough to pass?
The four courses run about 20 hours, but video alone is rarely enough. Most learners also need lab time, notes and at least one practice exam. The 8-week plan above adds roughly 27 hours of practice around the videos.
Is there a free way to try the training?
Pluralsight advertises a free individual trial and a free team trial for this path. Use the trial window to work through the courses and the practice exam.
How soon will my voucher code arrive?
We email the code within 12 hours of payment, and it also appears in your account. Check your spam folder first if the email is late. Contact support with your order number if it still does not show.
Should I take Server+ or Linux+ first?
Pick the one that matches the servers you manage. Server+ covers hardware, storage, virtualization, security and troubleshooting across server types. Linux+ is the better fit if your day-to-day work is mostly Linux administration.
