KCNA Kubernetes Fundamentals Practice Question
A Service of type ClusterIP is created to expose a set of pods. How does the Service achieve load balancing to the pods?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common trap is confusing the control-plane role of the API server with the data-plane role of kube-proxy. The API server does not handle data-plane traffic for Services.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The kube-proxy component on each node sets up network rules to forward traffic to the pods
Kube-proxy on each node implements load balancing for ClusterIP Services by creating iptables or IPVS rules that distribute traffic from the Service's virtual IP to the backend pods. These rules use a random or round-robin selection (depending on the mode) to forward packets to healthy pods, ensuring no single pod is overwhelmed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The API server routes traffic directly to the pods
Why it's wrong here
The API server is not involved in data plane traffic.
- ✓
The kube-proxy component on each node sets up network rules to forward traffic to the pods
Why this is correct
kube-proxy handles the implementation of ClusterIP Services.
- ✗
The kubelet configures the container runtime to route traffic
Why it's wrong here
kubelet does not handle service networking.
- ✗
Using a cloud load balancer
Why it's wrong here
That would be a LoadBalancer type Service, not ClusterIP.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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