comptia server+ Study Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2025
Your complete roadmap to passing the SK0-005 certification exam. This comprehensive study guide covers all 4 exam domains with detailed explanations, study tips, and practice resources.
Quick Start
Essential steps to begin your preparation
Review Exam Objectives
View all domains →Take Assessment Quiz
Free practice test →Follow Study Plan
8-week roadmap →Full Practice Exams
Start practicing →Exam Domains & Objectives
Master these 4 domains to pass the SK0-005 exam
Server Hardware Installation and Management
Server Administration
Security and Disaster Recovery
Troubleshooting
8-Week Study Plan
Follow this structured plan to prepare for your CompTIA Server+ exam
Foundation
Understand core concepts and exam objectives
Focus Areas:
- Server Hardware Installation and Management
- Server Administration
Deep Dive
Master advanced topics and practical applications
Focus Areas:
- Security and Disaster Recovery
- Troubleshooting
Practice & Review
Take practice exams and review weak areas
Focus Areas:
Final Prep
Full practice exams and last-minute review
Focus Areas:
- Full-length practice tests
- Review all domains
Curated Study Resources
AI-curated resources with real links to help you prepare for the CompTIA Server+ exam
Complete Study Guide for CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005)
CompTIA Server+ certification validates the hands-on skills of IT professionals who install, manage, and troubleshoot servers in data centers and on-premises environments. This associate-level certification covers server hardware, administration, storage, security, networking, and disaster recovery. It's vendor-neutral and recognized globally as a standard for server administration competency.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Server administrators with 18-24 months of hands-on experience
- Data center technicians
- Systems administrators transitioning to server-focused roles
- IT professionals seeking to validate server management skills
- Help desk technicians advancing to infrastructure roles
Prerequisites
- CompTIA A+ certification recommended but not required
- Basic understanding of networking concepts
- Familiarity with Windows and Linux operating systems
- Knowledge of storage technologies and RAID configurations
- Understanding of virtualization concepts
- 18-24 months of hands-on server administration experience recommended
Official Resources
CompTIA Server+ Certification Official Page
Official certification overview, exam objectives, and registration information
View ResourceCompTIA Server+ SK0-005 Exam Objectives
Detailed breakdown of all exam domains and sub-objectives
View ResourceCompTIA CertMaster Learn for Server+
Official CompTIA interactive learning platform with videos, quizzes, and performance tracking
View ResourceCompTIA CertMaster Practice for Server+
Official adaptive practice question platform that identifies knowledge gaps
View ResourceCompTIA Store - Server+ Training Materials
Official study guides, practice tests, and training bundles
View ResourceRecommended Courses
CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005) Complete Video Course
Professor Messer (YouTube) • 20+ hours
View CourseRecommended Books
CompTIA Server+ Study Guide: Exam SK0-005
by Troy McMillan
Official CompTIA authorized study guide with comprehensive coverage of all exam objectives, practice questions, and online learning tools
View on AmazonCompTIA Server+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Second Edition (Exam SK0-005)
by Daniel Lachance and Timothy Marron
Comprehensive guide with hands-on exercises, real-world scenarios, and practice exams from McGraw-Hill
View on AmazonCompTIA Server+ Exam Cram (Exam SK0-005)
by Eds Networking
Fast-paced review guide focusing on exam essentials with cram sheets and practice questions
View on AmazonCompTIA Server+ Practice Tests: Exam SK0-005
by Troy McMillan
Companion practice test book with hundreds of questions organized by domain
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
CompTIA CertMaster Practice for Server+
Official adaptive practice platform with hundreds of questions and knowledge gap analysis
View ResourceJason Dion Server+ Practice Exams (Udemy)
Six full-length practice exams with detailed explanations, highly rated by students
View ResourceProfessor Messer Server+ Practice Exams
Practice questions aligned with exam objectives with detailed explanations
View ResourceVirtualBox Free Virtualization Platform
Free virtualization software to create hands-on lab environments for practicing server administration
View ResourceWindows Server Evaluation Center
Free 180-day evaluation versions of Windows Server for lab environments
View ResourceLinux Distribution Downloads
Free Linux server distributions (Ubuntu Server, CentOS Stream, Rocky Linux) for practice
View ResourceExamCompass Server+ Practice Tests
Free practice questions organized by domain with immediate feedback
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
CompTIA Server+ Community
Active Reddit community for all CompTIA certifications with exam tips, study resources, and peer support
Join CommunityCompTIA Official LinkedIn Group
Professional network for CompTIA certified professionals and candidates
Join CommunityProfessor Messer Server+ Study Group
Monthly study groups, Q&A sessions, and community discussions
Join CommunityTechExams CompTIA Forum
Dedicated Server+ forum with study tips, exam experiences, and technical discussions
Join CommunityCompTIA IT Career & Certification Discord
Real-time chat community for CompTIA exam preparation and IT career discussions
Join Communityr/sysadmin
System administrator community with real-world server management discussions
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Hands-On Practice
- Build a home lab using VirtualBox or VMware Workstation with at least 16GB RAM to run multiple VMs
- Practice installing and configuring both Windows Server 2019/2022 and Linux distributions
- Simulate real-world scenarios like RAID failures, backup/restore procedures, and disaster recovery
- Break and fix your lab environment intentionally to practice troubleshooting
- Document your lab configurations as practice for change management
Performance-Based Questions (PBQs)
- Expect 2-4 PBQs at the beginning of the exam—flag them and return after completing multiple-choice if needed
- Practice common PBQ scenarios: configuring RAID, setting up backup schedules, interpreting performance graphs
- Familiarize yourself with different server management interfaces (GUI and command-line)
- Time management is critical—don't spend more than 5-7 minutes per PBQ initially
- PBQs often test your ability to apply knowledge in simulated environments rather than recall facts
Domain-Specific Focus
- Allocate study time proportionally to domain weights: 30% to Administration, 28% to Troubleshooting
- Create comparison charts for similar concepts (RAID levels, backup types, server form factors)
- Memorize the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology—it's tested directly and indirectly throughout
- Focus on 'when to use' scenarios rather than just definitions (e.g., when to use RAID 5 vs RAID 10)
- Understand both Windows and Linux environments—exam is OS-agnostic
Memorization Techniques
- Create acronyms for troubleshooting steps, RAID levels, and backup types
- Use flashcards for technical specifications (RAID parity requirements, backup rotation schemes)
- Build decision trees for troubleshooting scenarios based on symptoms
- Practice drawing server architecture diagrams from memory
- Create a 'cheat sheet' during study and rewrite it multiple times to reinforce memory
Practice Exam Strategy
- Take your first practice exam after completing 50% of study material to identify weak areas
- Simulate real exam conditions: 90 minutes, no breaks, no notes
- Review incorrect answers thoroughly and understand why other options were wrong
- Track your scores by domain to identify which areas need more focus
- Aim for consistent 85%+ scores on practice exams before scheduling the real exam
- Take your final practice exam 2-3 days before the real test
Technical Documentation
- Read official Microsoft and Linux documentation for server features
- Understand vendor-neutral concepts first, then learn vendor-specific implementations
- Review CIS benchmarks for server hardening practices
- Familiarize yourself with common log file locations and formats in both Windows and Linux
- Study RFC documents for networking protocols used in server environments
Real-World Application
- If working in IT, relate study topics to your actual work environment
- Join online communities and read about real-world server issues and solutions
- Follow server administration blogs and case studies
- Practice explaining concepts to others—teaching reinforces learning
- Consider how you would implement solutions in a production environment, not just test scenarios
Exam Day Tips
- 1Arrive 15 minutes early for in-person exams; for online exams, start check-in process 30 minutes early
- 2Read each question carefully—CompTIA questions often include distractors and 'best answer' scenarios
- 3Flag Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) if they appear difficult and return to them after completing multiple-choice
- 4Watch for keywords like 'BEST', 'FIRST', 'MOST', 'LEAST' which indicate prioritization questions
- 5Eliminate obviously wrong answers first, then choose between remaining options
- 6Budget approximately 60 seconds per multiple-choice question and 5-7 minutes per PBQ
- 7Don't leave any questions blank—there's no penalty for guessing
- 8Use the whiteboard/scratch paper provided to draw diagrams for complex scenarios
- 9Review flagged questions if time permits, but trust your first instinct unless you find a clear error
- 10Stay calm during PBQs—partial credit may be awarded even if you don't complete them perfectly
- 11Remember that questions are weighted differently—focus on giving your best effort on each question
- 12If taking the exam online, ensure your testing environment is quiet, well-lit, and free from prohibited items
Study guide generated on January 8, 2026
Pro Study Tips
Expert advice to maximize your study effectiveness
Active Learning Strategies
- Hands-on practice: Apply concepts in real scenarios
- Teach others: Explain concepts to reinforce learning
- Take notes: Write summaries in your own words
Exam Day Preparation
- Get enough sleep: Rest well the night before
- Review key points: Go through your notes and cheat sheets
- Time management: Practice pacing with timed exams
Continue Your Preparation
More resources to help you succeed
Complete CompTIA Server+ Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide will help you prepare for the SK0-005 certification exam offered by CompTIA. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this guide covers everything you need to know to pass on your first attempt.
What You Will Learn
Our study guide covers all 4 exam domains in detail:
- Server Hardware Installation and Management (18%)
- Server Administration (30%)
- Security and Disaster Recovery (24%)
- Troubleshooting (28%)
Recommended Timeline
Most candidates need 6-8 weeks of dedicated study to pass the CompTIA Server+ exam. We recommend studying 1-2 hours daily and taking practice exams weekly to track your progress.
Next Step: Start with our free practice test to assess your current knowledge level.