This CKA practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 of the following are valid steps to troubleshoot a DNS issue within a Kubernetes cluster?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Verify that the kube-dns service has endpoints using 'kubectl get endpoints -n kube-system kube-dns'
Option A is correct because the `kubectl get endpoints -n kube-system kube-dns` command verifies that the kube-dns service has at least one endpoint (i.e., a ready CoreDNS pod). If the service has no endpoints, DNS queries will fail because there is no backend to handle them. This is a fundamental step in troubleshooting DNS in Kubernetes, as it confirms the service is properly connected to running pods.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Verify that the kube-dns service has endpoints using 'kubectl get endpoints -n kube-system kube-dns'
Why this is correct
If no endpoints, DNS service is not routing to pods.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Check the logs of the CoreDNS pods using 'kubectl logs -n kube-system -l k8s-app=kube-dns'
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that node-level configuration files like `/etc/resolv.conf` are relevant for cluster-internal DNS troubleshooting, when in fact the issue is almost always within the CoreDNS pods or service endpoints.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CoreDNS uses a plugin chain to resolve DNS queries; the `kubectl logs` command in option B can reveal plugin errors (e.g., forward plugin failures, kubernetes plugin misconfigurations) that cause resolution failures. The `nslookup` in option E tests the cluster's internal DNS resolution from a pod's perspective, which is critical because it bypasses external DNS and directly queries the CoreDNS service IP (typically 10.96.0.10). In real-world scenarios, a missing endpoint often indicates that the CoreDNS deployment has crashed or is not running, which can be confirmed by checking pod status with `kubectl get pods -n kube-system -l k8s-app=kube-dns`.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKA question in full detail.
Troubleshooting — This question tests Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Verify that the kube-dns service has endpoints using 'kubectl get endpoints -n kube-system kube-dns' — Option A is correct because the `kubectl get endpoints -n kube-system kube-dns` command verifies that the kube-dns service has at least one endpoint (i.e., a ready CoreDNS pod). If the service has no endpoints, DNS queries will fail because there is no backend to handle them. This is a fundamental step in troubleshooting DNS in Kubernetes, as it confirms the service is properly connected to running pods.
What should I do if I get this CKA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.