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.
You are securing etcd. Which of the following is required to enable TLS client authentication for etcd?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set --client-cert-auth to true and provide --trusted-ca-file
Option D is correct because etcd requires `--client-cert-auth=true` to enforce TLS client certificate authentication for incoming client requests, and `--trusted-ca-file` must be provided to specify the CA certificate used to validate client certificates. Without both, client certificate authentication is not enabled.
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.
✗
Set --auto-tls to true
Why it's wrong here
Auto-tls uses self-signed certificates for peer connections, not for client authentication.
✗
Set --peer-client-cert-auth to true
Why it's wrong here
This enables client cert authentication for peer connections, not client connections.
✗
Use --cert-file and --key-file only
Why it's wrong here
These enable server-side TLS, not client authentication.
✓
Set --client-cert-auth to true and provide --trusted-ca-file
Why this is correct
These flags enable and configure client certificate authentication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse `--peer-client-cert-auth` (for inter-node communication) with `--client-cert-auth` (for client-to-server communication), leading them to select option B instead of D.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When `--client-cert-auth=true` is set, etcd sends a CertificateRequest during the TLS handshake, requiring the client to present a certificate signed by a CA listed in `--trusted-ca-file`. The server then verifies the client certificate chain and optionally checks the Common Name (CN) against the `--client-cert-allowed-cn` flag. In production, this prevents unauthorized clients from accessing the key-value store, which is critical because etcd stores cluster secrets and configuration.
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: Set --client-cert-auth to true and provide --trusted-ca-file — Option D is correct because etcd requires `--client-cert-auth=true` to enforce TLS client certificate authentication for incoming client requests, and `--trusted-ca-file` must be provided to specify the CA certificate used to validate client certificates. Without both, client certificate authentication is not enabled.
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.
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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