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 THREE components run on every worker node in a Kubernetes cluster? (Choose THREE.)
etcd
Why wrong: etcd runs on control plane nodes only.
kube-proxy
kube-proxy runs on every node and handles service networking.
kubelet
kubelet runs on every node and manages pods.
kube-apiserver
Why wrong: API server runs on control plane nodes only.
container runtime
Container runtime (e.g., containerd) runs on every node to run containers.
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
B (kube-proxy) is correct because it runs on every worker node to maintain network rules and handle service-to-pod traffic routing via iptables or IPVS. It is a core component for Kubernetes networking, ensuring that service endpoints are reachable from within the cluster.
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.
etcd
Why it's wrong here
etcd runs on control plane nodes only.
kube-proxy
Why this is correct
kube-proxy runs on every node and handles service networking.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
kubelet
Why this is correct
kubelet runs on every node and manages pods.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
kube-apiserver
Why it's wrong here
API server runs on control plane nodes only.
container runtime
Why this is correct
Container runtime (e.g., containerd) runs on every node to run containers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the misconception that etcd or kube-apiserver are distributed across all nodes, but in a standard Kubernetes cluster, they are strictly control plane components and never run on worker nodes.
Detailed technical explanation
kube-proxy watches the Kubernetes API server for changes to Services and EndpointSlices, then updates iptables rules (or IPVS) on the node to direct traffic to the correct Pods. In real-world scenarios, misconfigured kube-proxy can cause service connectivity issues, such as timeouts or incorrect load balancing, especially when switching between proxy modes (userspace, iptables, IPVS).
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 — B (kube-proxy) is correct because it runs on every worker node to maintain network rules and handle service-to-pod traffic routing via iptables or IPVS. It is a core component for Kubernetes networking, ensuring that service endpoints are reachable from within the cluster.
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 30, 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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