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 of the following is NOT a control plane component in Kubernetes?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "NOT"
Why it matters: Negative qualifier — you are looking for the one option that does NOT apply. Most options will be true; only one is false for this scenario.
kube-scheduler
Why wrong: kube-scheduler is a control plane component.
etcd
Why wrong: etcd is a control plane component.
kube-proxy
kube-proxy runs on each worker node, not on the control plane.
kube-apiserver
Why wrong: kube-apiserver is a control plane component.
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
kube-proxy is not a control plane component; it is a node-level (worker) component responsible for implementing network rules and handling service-to-pod traffic via iptables or IPVS. The control plane consists of kube-apiserver, etcd, kube-scheduler, and kube-controller-manager.
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-scheduler
Why it's wrong here
kube-scheduler is a control plane component.
etcd
Why it's wrong here
etcd is a control plane component.
kube-proxy
Why this is correct
kube-proxy runs on each worker node, not on the control plane.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "NOT" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
kube-apiserver
Why it's wrong here
kube-apiserver is a control plane component.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse kube-proxy as a control plane component because it interacts with the API server and is essential for networking, but it operates at the node level and is not part of the control plane's core management functions.
Detailed technical explanation
The control plane components run on the master node(s) and manage the cluster's desired state, while kube-proxy runs on every node (including master nodes) as a DaemonSet to maintain network connectivity. kube-proxy watches the API server for Service and EndpointSlice changes and updates local iptables or IPVS rules accordingly, but it does not participate in scheduling, storing state, or serving the API.
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 — kube-proxy is not a control plane component; it is a node-level (worker) component responsible for implementing network rules and handling service-to-pod traffic via iptables or IPVS. The control plane consists of kube-apiserver, etcd, kube-scheduler, and kube-controller-manager.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "NOT". Negative qualifier — you are looking for the one option that does NOT apply. Most options will be true; only one is false for this scenario.
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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