This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. 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.
An etcd cluster uses TLS for peer and client communication. You need to secure etcd further by enabling RBAC. Which flag do you set on the etcd process to enable authentication?
--client-cert-auth=true
This enables client certificate authentication, which is required for RBAC.
--enable-rbac=true
Why wrong: There is no such flag; RBAC is enabled via client certificate auth and then configured.
--authentication-mode=RBAC
Why wrong: This flag does not exist in etcd.
--auth-mode=rbac
Why wrong: etcd does not have an --auth-mode flag.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
--client-cert-auth=true
In etcd, RBAC is not enabled by a dedicated RBAC flag; instead, authentication must first be turned on using `--client-cert-auth=true`. This flag requires clients to present a valid TLS certificate, which is the prerequisite for enabling RBAC. After setting this flag, you can use `etcdctl` commands like `etcdctl role add` and `etcdctl user add` to configure RBAC roles and users.
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.
--client-cert-auth=true
Why this is correct
This enables client certificate authentication, which is required for RBAC.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--enable-rbac=true
Why it's wrong here
There is no such flag; RBAC is enabled via client certificate auth and then configured.
--authentication-mode=RBAC
Why it's wrong here
This flag does not exist in etcd.
--auth-mode=rbac
Why it's wrong here
etcd does not have an --auth-mode flag.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume there is a direct `--enable-rbac` or `--auth-mode` flag for RBAC, but etcd requires `--client-cert-auth=true` first, and then RBAC is enabled via the etcd API or `etcdctl` commands.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, etcd's RBAC relies on the TLS client certificate's Common Name (CN) to identify users. When `--client-cert-auth=true` is set, etcd extracts the CN from the presented certificate and maps it to a user. RBAC roles and permissions are then enforced based on that user identity. A subtle behavior is that RBAC is only enforced after you explicitly enable it via `etcdctl auth enable` — the flag alone does not activate RBAC, it only enables certificate-based authentication as a prerequisite.
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 CKS 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 Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: --client-cert-auth=true — In etcd, RBAC is not enabled by a dedicated RBAC flag; instead, authentication must first be turned on using `--client-cert-auth=true`. This flag requires clients to present a valid TLS certificate, which is the prerequisite for enabling RBAC. After setting this flag, you can use `etcdctl` commands like `etcdctl role add` and `etcdctl user add` to configure RBAC roles and users.
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 24, 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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