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.
Which flag enables the NodeRestriction admission plugin on the API server?
--enable-admission-plugins=NodeRestriction
This flag enables the NodeRestriction admission plugin.
--admission-control=NodeRestriction
Why wrong: The flag is --enable-admission-plugins, not --admission-control.
--kubelet-restriction=NodeRestriction
Why wrong: There is no such flag.
--node-restriction=true
Why wrong: There is no such flag. NodeRestriction is an admission plugin.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
--enable-admission-plugins=NodeRestriction
The `--enable-admission-plugins` flag is the correct parameter to activate admission controllers in the kube-apiserver. The NodeRestriction plugin limits the Node and Pod objects a kubelet can modify, enforcing the principle of least privilege. Option A correctly uses this flag with the plugin name.
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.
--enable-admission-plugins=NodeRestriction
Why this is correct
This flag enables the NodeRestriction admission plugin.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--admission-control=NodeRestriction
Why it's wrong here
The flag is --enable-admission-plugins, not --admission-control.
--kubelet-restriction=NodeRestriction
Why it's wrong here
There is no such flag.
--node-restriction=true
Why it's wrong here
There is no such flag. NodeRestriction is an admission plugin.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the deprecated `--admission-control` flag with the current `--enable-admission-plugins` flag, or they invent non-existent flags like `--kubelet-restriction` or `--node-restriction` that sound plausible but are not valid API server options.
Detailed technical explanation
The NodeRestriction admission plugin works by validating requests from kubelets against their `spec.nodeName` and the Node object they are authenticated to represent. It prevents a compromised kubelet from modifying labels, taints, or Pods on other nodes, which is critical in multi-tenant or cluster-hardening scenarios. The plugin is automatically enabled in some managed Kubernetes distributions (e.g., GKE, EKS) but must be explicitly added in self-managed clusters via `--enable-admission-plugins`.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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: --enable-admission-plugins=NodeRestriction — The `--enable-admission-plugins` flag is the correct parameter to activate admission controllers in the kube-apiserver. The NodeRestriction plugin limits the Node and Pod objects a kubelet can modify, enforcing the principle of least privilege. Option A correctly uses this flag with the plugin name.
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
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