This CKA practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting. 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 correct methods to check the health of the kube-apiserver?
Why wrong: Shows node resource usage, not apiserver health.
B
Run 'systemctl status kube-apiserver'
If the apiserver is run as a systemd service, systemctl shows its status.
C
Run 'kubectl get pods -n kube-system -l component=kube-apiserver'
In a kubeadm cluster, the apiserver runs as a static pod; this command shows its status.
D
Run 'journalctl -u kubelet'
Why wrong: kubelet logs are not specific to apiserver health.
E
Run 'curl -k https://localhost:6443/healthz'
Why wrong: This does check the health endpoint, but the command is correct. However, the question asks for TWO correct methods. Both A and B are correct. E is also correct but since we need exactly two, we choose A and B as more direct.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Run 'systemctl status kube-apiserver'
The kube-apiserver exposes a health endpoint on the secure port (usually 6443). You can check its process status with systemctl or check the endpoint directly. kubectl get pods is for checking if the apiserver pod is running in a kubeadm cluster.
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.
✗
Run 'kubectl top nodes'
Why it's wrong here
Shows node resource usage, not apiserver health.
✓
Run 'systemctl status kube-apiserver'
Why this is correct
If the apiserver is run as a systemd service, systemctl shows its status.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Run 'kubectl get pods -n kube-system -l component=kube-apiserver'
Why this is correct
In a kubeadm cluster, the apiserver runs as a static pod; this command shows its status.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Run 'journalctl -u kubelet'
Why it's wrong here
kubelet logs are not specific to apiserver health.
✗
Run 'curl -k https://localhost:6443/healthz'
Why it's wrong here
This does check the health endpoint, but the command is correct. However, the question asks for TWO correct methods. Both A and B are correct. E is also correct but since we need exactly two, we choose A and B as more direct.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows node resource usage, not apiserver health.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which CKA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Run 'systemctl status kube-apiserver' — The kube-apiserver exposes a health endpoint on the secure port (usually 6443). You can check its process status with systemctl or check the endpoint directly. kubectl get pods is for checking if the apiserver pod is running in a kubeadm cluster.
What should I do if I get this CKA question wrong?
Identify which CKA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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