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.
Which command can be used to check if the API server has anonymous authentication enabled?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
kubectl describe pod kube-apiserver -n kube-system | grep anonymous-auth
Option B is correct because the kube-apiserver pod's manifest (or its runtime configuration) contains the `--anonymous-auth` flag. By inspecting the pod's YAML with `kubectl describe pod kube-apiserver -n kube-system` and grepping for `anonymous-auth`, you can see whether the flag is set to `true` (enabled) or `false` (disabled). This is the direct way to check the API server's runtime configuration for anonymous authentication.
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.
✗
kubectl get clusterrole cluster-admin -o yaml
Why it's wrong here
ClusterRole does not show API server configuration.
✓
kubectl describe pod kube-apiserver -n kube-system | grep anonymous-auth
Why this is correct
This shows the kube-apiserver's flags including anonymous-auth.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
kubectl get node -o yaml
Why it's wrong here
Node objects do not contain API server flags.
✗
kubectl auth can-i --list --as=system:anonymous
Why it's wrong here
This checks what anonymous user can do, but does not show the flag.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that RBAC commands (like `kubectl auth can-i`) can detect server-level flags, when in fact they only test authorization after authentication has already succeeded, making them useless for checking if anonymous auth is enabled.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
ClusterRole does not show API server configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `--anonymous-auth` flag defaults to `true` in Kubernetes, meaning anonymous requests are allowed by default. However, in a hardened cluster (e.g., for CKS compliance), this flag is often set to `false` to require authentication for all requests. The flag can be set in the kube-apiserver static pod manifest (usually at `/etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml`) or passed as a command-line argument; inspecting the running pod's spec via `kubectl describe` reveals the effective configuration, including any overrides from the kubelet's pod manifest.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKS question in full detail.
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: kubectl describe pod kube-apiserver -n kube-system | grep anonymous-auth — Option B is correct because the kube-apiserver pod's manifest (or its runtime configuration) contains the `--anonymous-auth` flag. By inspecting the pod's YAML with `kubectl describe pod kube-apiserver -n kube-system` and grepping for `anonymous-auth`, you can see whether the flag is set to `true` (enabled) or `false` (disabled). This is the direct way to check the API server's runtime configuration for anonymous authentication.
What should I do if I get this CKS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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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