If a server administrator needs to replace a hard drive while the server is running, what feature must the hard drive support?

For a server administrator to replace a hard drive while the server is running, the hard drive must support hot swapping. This refers to the capability to remove and replace components, such as hard drives, without having to power down the server or disrupt its operation. Hot-swappable drives are typically found in server environments where uptime is critical, as they allow for maintenance and upgrades to occur on the fly without impacting service availability.

Hot spare refers to a drive that is installed but not actively used. It can automatically take the place of a failed drive, but it doesn’t allow for the replacement of drives while the system stays on. SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) is a protocol for connecting storage devices but does not inherently imply hot swapping capabilities. USB drives can also be hot-swappable; however, they are not typically used as primary storage in server environments, especially in enterprise settings where robustness and performance are prioritized. Therefore, hot swappable is the necessary feature for replacing hard drives in a live server scenario.