This CKA practice question tests your understanding of cluster architecture, installation & configuration. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A cluster uses etcd with TLS encryption. Which THREE of the following are valid etcd client certificate authentication flags?
--client-cert-auth
Why wrong: This flag enables client certificate authentication, but is not a certificate file flag.
--trusted-ca-file
Specifies the trusted CA certificate for verifying client certificates.
--cert-file
Specifies the client certificate for etcd.
--key-file
Specifies the client key file.
--peer-cert-file
Why wrong: This is for peer communication, not client authentication.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
--trusted-ca-file
Option B is correct because `--trusted-ca-file` specifies the CA certificate used to validate client certificates when client certificate authentication is enabled. This flag is required for etcd to trust incoming client connections that present a certificate signed by the specified CA, forming the basis of mutual TLS (mTLS) authentication.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
--client-cert-auth
Why it's wrong here
This flag enables client certificate authentication, but is not a certificate file flag.
--trusted-ca-file
Why this is correct
Specifies the trusted CA certificate for verifying client certificates.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--cert-file
Why this is correct
Specifies the client certificate for etcd.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--key-file
Why this is correct
Specifies the client key file.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--peer-cert-file
Why it's wrong here
This is for peer communication, not client authentication.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the flags for enabling client certificate authentication (`--client-cert-auth`) with the flags that supply the actual certificate files (`--cert-file`, `--key-file`, `--trusted-ca-file`), or mix up peer communication flags with client-facing ones.
Detailed technical explanation
In etcd, client certificate authentication is enforced when `--client-cert-auth=true` is set, and the server validates the client's certificate against the CA specified by `--trusted-ca-file`. The `--cert-file` and `--key-file` flags provide the server's own certificate and private key for TLS termination, enabling clients to verify the server's identity. This mutual authentication ensures that both parties are authenticated, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks and unauthorized access to the etcd datastore.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CKA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration — This question tests Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: --trusted-ca-file — Option B is correct because `--trusted-ca-file` specifies the CA certificate used to validate client certificates when client certificate authentication is enabled. This flag is required for etcd to trust incoming client connections that present a certificate signed by the specified CA, forming the basis of mutual TLS (mTLS) authentication.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CKA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CKA exam.
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