200-901 Application Deployment and Security Practice Question
A developer runs 'docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name web nginx:alpine'. The container fails to start. Which command is the most appropriate to investigate the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between `docker inspect` (metadata) and `docker logs` (runtime output), and the trap here is that candidates assume `docker inspect` shows error messages, but it only shows configuration and state, not application logs.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
docker logs -f web
`docker logs -f web` streams the container's stdout and stderr output, which typically contains the error message explaining why the container failed to start (e.g., port conflict, missing configuration, or process crash). Since the container is not running, `docker logs` is the primary diagnostic tool to retrieve its exit logs without requiring the container to be active.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
docker inspect web
Why it's wrong here
docker inspect shows detailed configuration but not necessarily the logs of why the container exited.
- ✗
docker exec -it web bash
Why it's wrong here
docker exec cannot be used on a stopped container.
- ✓
docker logs -f web
Why this is correct
docker logs -f web streams the logs, revealing any errors during startup.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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