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 TWO of the following are control plane components?
cloud-controller-manager
The cloud controller manager runs controllers that interact with cloud provider APIs.
kubelet
Why wrong: kubelet runs on every node, including worker nodes.
etcd
etcd is the cluster's key-value store and runs on the control plane.
container runtime
Why wrong: The container runtime runs on every node to manage containers.
kube-proxy
Why wrong: kube-proxy runs on every node, including worker nodes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
cloud-controller-manager
The cloud-controller-manager is a control plane component that integrates with cloud provider APIs to manage cloud-specific resources such as load balancers, storage volumes, and nodes. It runs as a daemon on the control plane and interacts with the Kubernetes API server to reconcile cloud resources with cluster state.
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.
cloud-controller-manager
Why this is correct
The cloud controller manager runs controllers that interact with cloud provider APIs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
kubelet
Why it's wrong here
kubelet runs on every node, including worker nodes.
etcd
Why this is correct
etcd is the cluster's key-value store and runs on the control plane.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
container runtime
Why it's wrong here
The container runtime runs on every node to manage containers.
kube-proxy
Why it's wrong here
kube-proxy runs on every node, including worker nodes.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the distinction between control plane and node components, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly classify kube-proxy or kubelet as control plane components because they are essential for cluster operation, but they are not part of the control plane's core management layer.
Detailed technical explanation
The control plane components (kube-apiserver, etcd, kube-scheduler, kube-controller-manager, cloud-controller-manager) manage cluster-wide state and scheduling, while node components (kubelet, kube-proxy, container runtime) handle local execution. The cloud-controller-manager specifically runs cloud-specific controllers that interact with external APIs, and in some distributions it may be deployed as a static pod or systemd service on control plane nodes.
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: cloud-controller-manager — The cloud-controller-manager is a control plane component that integrates with cloud provider APIs to manage cloud-specific resources such as load balancers, storage volumes, and nodes. It runs as a daemon on the control plane and interacts with the Kubernetes API server to reconcile cloud resources with cluster state.
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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