This CKAD practice question tests your understanding of services and networking. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 required for Ingress to route HTTP traffic to a backend Service?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
An Ingress controller deployed in the cluster
An Ingress controller is required because the Ingress resource itself is just a set of routing rules; it does not process traffic. The Ingress controller, typically a pod running a reverse proxy like nginx or Envoy, watches the Ingress API and configures itself to route external HTTP/HTTPS traffic to the appropriate backend Services. Without a running Ingress controller, the Ingress resource has no effect.
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.
✗
Pod readiness probes
Why it's wrong here
Readiness probes are good practice but not required for Ingress.
✓
An Ingress controller deployed in the cluster
Why this is correct
Ingress controller is required to implement the rules.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A Service of type LoadBalancer
Why it's wrong here
Ingress can route to ClusterIP Service; LoadBalancer not required.
✓
A Service (any type) that matches the Ingress backend
Why this is correct
Ingress routes to a Service; Service must exist.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A TLS certificate for HTTPS
Why it's wrong here
HTTPS is optional; Ingress works with HTTP without TLS.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that an Ingress resource alone can route traffic without a controller, or that a LoadBalancer Service is mandatory for Ingress to work, when in fact the controller handles external exposure and any Service type suffices for the backend.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the Ingress controller runs as a pod in the cluster and implements the actual load balancing and routing logic, often using a Lua-based or Go-based plugin to dynamically update its configuration from the Kubernetes API. A common subtlety is that the Ingress resource must specify a valid backend Service name and port, and the Service must exist in the same namespace; otherwise, the controller will report a 503 or 404 error. In real-world scenarios, teams often forget to deploy the Ingress controller or misconfigure the Service selector, causing traffic to fail silently.
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 CKAD 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 CKAD question in full detail.
Services and Networking — This question tests Services and Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: An Ingress controller deployed in the cluster — An Ingress controller is required because the Ingress resource itself is just a set of routing rules; it does not process traffic. The Ingress controller, typically a pod running a reverse proxy like nginx or Envoy, watches the Ingress API and configures itself to route external HTTP/HTTPS traffic to the appropriate backend Services. Without a running Ingress controller, the Ingress resource has no effect.
What should I do if I get this CKAD 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.
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Question Discussion
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