This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup. 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.
A cluster is using kubeadm and the control plane components are running as static pods. Where are the static pod manifests for the API server located by default?
/var/lib/kubelet/
Why wrong: This is the kubelet working directory.
/etc/kubernetes/manifests/
Default static pod manifest directory.
/etc/kubernetes/admin.conf
Why wrong: This is a kubeconfig file.
/etc/kubernetes/
Why wrong: This directory contains config files, not static pod manifests.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
/etc/kubernetes/manifests/
In a kubeadm-deployed cluster, the control plane components (API server, controller manager, scheduler) run as static pods. The kubelet watches a specific directory for pod manifests to create these static pods. By default, kubeadm places the manifests for the API server (and other control plane components) in /etc/kubernetes/manifests/. This directory is specified via the --pod-manifest-path or staticPodPath in the kubelet configuration.
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.
/var/lib/kubelet/
Why it's wrong here
This is the kubelet working directory.
/etc/kubernetes/manifests/
Why this is correct
Default static pod manifest directory.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/etc/kubernetes/admin.conf
Why it's wrong here
This is a kubeconfig file.
/etc/kubernetes/
Why it's wrong here
This directory contains config files, not static pod manifests.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the static pod manifest directory (/etc/kubernetes/manifests/) with the kubelet's working directory (/var/lib/kubelet/) or the general cluster configuration directory (/etc/kubernetes/), leading them to pick a plausible but incorrect path.
Detailed technical explanation
The kubelet's static pod mechanism works by polling the manifest directory (default /etc/kubernetes/manifests/) for YAML or JSON files. When a manifest is placed or modified, the kubelet creates or updates the corresponding pod without requiring the API server. This is critical for bootstrapping the control plane itself, as the API server must be running before it can accept pod creation requests. In a real-world scenario, if you need to modify API server flags (e.g., --audit-policy-file), you edit the manifest file directly, and the kubelet automatically restarts the static pod.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Cluster Setup — This question tests Cluster Setup — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: /etc/kubernetes/manifests/ — In a kubeadm-deployed cluster, the control plane components (API server, controller manager, scheduler) run as static pods. The kubelet watches a specific directory for pod manifests to create these static pods. By default, kubeadm places the manifests for the API server (and other control plane components) in /etc/kubernetes/manifests/. This directory is specified via the --pod-manifest-path or staticPodPath in the kubelet configuration.
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 11, 2026
This CKS 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 CKS exam.
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