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 tasked with securing the kubelet. Which flag must be set on the kubelet to enable the NodeRestriction admission plugin?
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 on the kube-apiserver
Option D is correct because the NodeRestriction admission plugin is an admission controller that runs on the kube-apiserver, not on the kubelet. It limits the Node and Pod objects a kubelet can modify, enforcing that nodes can only modify their own node object and pods bound to them. The flag `--enable-admission-plugins=NodeRestriction` on the kube-apiserver activates this plugin, which is a key security control for hardening the cluster.
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.
✗
--admission-control=NodeRestriction on the kubelet
Why it's wrong here
This flag is deprecated and not used on the kubelet.
✗
--enable-admission-plugins=NodeRestriction on the kubelet
Why it's wrong here
Admission plugins are configured on the API server, not the kubelet.
✗
--node-restriction=true on the kubelet
Why it's wrong here
This flag does not exist.
✓
--enable-admission-plugins=NodeRestriction on the kube-apiserver
Why this is correct
The NodeRestriction plugin is an admission controller on the API server, enabled with this flag.
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 the kubelet's role with the kube-apiserver's role, assuming admission plugins are configured on the kubelet because the NodeRestriction plugin directly affects kubelet behavior, but in reality admission plugins are always server-side components on the kube-apiserver.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The NodeRestriction admission plugin works by validating requests from kubelets based on their identity (the `system:node:<nodeName>` user). It ensures a kubelet can only modify its own Node object and Pods that have a `spec.nodeName` matching its node name, preventing privilege escalation. This plugin is part of a defense-in-depth strategy; even if a kubelet is compromised, it cannot tamper with other nodes or pods, which is critical in multi-tenant or high-security environments.
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: --enable-admission-plugins=NodeRestriction on the kube-apiserver — Option D is correct because the NodeRestriction admission plugin is an admission controller that runs on the kube-apiserver, not on the kubelet. It limits the Node and Pod objects a kubelet can modify, enforcing that nodes can only modify their own node object and pods bound to them. The flag `--enable-admission-plugins=NodeRestriction` on the kube-apiserver activates this plugin, which is a key security control for hardening the cluster.
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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