This CKA practice question tests your understanding of cluster architecture, installation and 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.
Which component is responsible for maintaining network rules on each node?
kube-controller-manager
Why wrong: The controller manager runs controllers that regulate the state of the cluster, not per-node network rules.
etcd
Why wrong: etcd is a distributed key-value store for cluster data, not involved in network rules.
kube-proxy
kube-proxy maintains network rules on each node to implement Kubernetes Services.
kubelet
Why wrong: kubelet manages pods and containers on the node, not network rules.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
kube-proxy
C is correct because kube-proxy is the component responsible for maintaining network rules on each node. It watches the Kubernetes API server for changes to Services and EndpointSlices, then updates iptables, IPVS, or other rules to route traffic to the appropriate Pods. This ensures that network policies and service load balancing are enforced at the node level.
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.
kube-controller-manager
Why it's wrong here
The controller manager runs controllers that regulate the state of the cluster, not per-node network rules.
etcd
Why it's wrong here
etcd is a distributed key-value store for cluster data, not involved in network rules.
kube-proxy
Why this is correct
kube-proxy maintains network rules on each node to implement Kubernetes Services.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
kubelet
Why it's wrong here
kubelet manages pods and containers on the node, not network rules.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing kubelet with kube-proxy, as both run on each node, but kubelet manages Pod lifecycle while kube-proxy manages network rules and service routing.
Detailed technical explanation
kube-proxy operates in userspace, iptables, or IPVS mode. In iptables mode, it programs NAT rules to redirect Service VIP traffic to backend Pods, and in IPVS mode it uses the Linux kernel's IPVS module for higher-performance load balancing. A subtle behavior is that kube-proxy does not handle DNS or network policy (NetworkPolicy is enforced by a separate CNI plugin like Calico or Cilium).
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 and Configuration — This question tests Cluster Architecture, Installation and Configuration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: kube-proxy — C is correct because kube-proxy is the component responsible for maintaining network rules on each node. It watches the Kubernetes API server for changes to Services and EndpointSlices, then updates iptables, IPVS, or other rules to route traffic to the appropriate Pods. This ensures that network policies and service load balancing are enforced at the node level.
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 24, 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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