This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. 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.
An administrator wants to enable audit logging on the API server. Which three flags are required to set up basic audit logging?
--audit-log-maxage=30
Sets the number of days to retain old audit log files.
--audit-log-format=json
Why wrong: Optional, but not required for basic audit logging.
--audit-log-path=/var/log/kubernetes/audit.log
Specifies the path for audit logs.
--audit-policy-file=/etc/kubernetes/audit-policy.yaml
Specifies the audit policy file.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
--audit-log-maxage=30
Option A is correct because the `--audit-log-maxage` flag defines the maximum number of days to retain old audit log files. This is a required flag for basic audit logging setup, as it ensures log rotation and prevents disk exhaustion. Without this flag, the API server will not rotate logs, which can lead to data loss or storage issues.
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.
--audit-log-maxage=30
Why this is correct
Sets the number of days to retain old audit log files.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--audit-log-format=json
Why it's wrong here
Optional, but not required for basic audit logging.
--audit-log-path=/var/log/kubernetes/audit.log
Why this is correct
Specifies the path for audit logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--audit-policy-file=/etc/kubernetes/audit-policy.yaml
Why this is correct
Specifies the audit policy file.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the misconception that `--audit-log-format=json` is required for basic audit logging, when in fact JSON is the default format and the flag is optional, leading candidates to select it as a required flag.
Detailed technical explanation
The Kubernetes API server audit logging mechanism uses a policy file (YAML) to define rules for logging requests at various stages (RequestReceived, ResponseStarted, ResponseComplete, etc.). The `--audit-log-path` flag enables the logging backend, while `--audit-policy-file` provides the rules; without a policy, no events are logged. The `--audit-log-maxage` flag works with `--audit-log-maxbackup` and `--audit-log-maxsize` to control log rotation, which is critical in production to avoid filling the filesystem.
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 and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: --audit-log-maxage=30 — Option A is correct because the `--audit-log-maxage` flag defines the maximum number of days to retain old audit log files. This is a required flag for basic audit logging setup, as it ensures log rotation and prevents disk exhaustion. Without this flag, the API server will not rotate logs, which can lead to data loss or storage issues.
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 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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