This KCNA practice question tests your understanding of kubernetes fundamentals. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
apiVersion: v1
kind: Pod
metadata:
name: web-pod
spec:
containers:
- name: web
image: nginx:1.21
ports:
- containerPort: 80
livenessProbe:
httpGet:
path: /healthz
port: 8080
initialDelaySeconds: 3
periodSeconds: 5
```
Refer to the exhibit. A pod is created with the above manifest. The container runs nginx listening on port 80, but the liveness probe is configured to check port 8080. What will happen?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The liveness probe will fail, causing the container to be restarted.
The liveness probe is configured to check port 8080, but the container only listens on port 80. Since the probe will never receive a successful HTTP response from port 8080, it will fail repeatedly. According to Kubernetes behavior, after the failure threshold is reached (default: 3 failures with a 10-second interval), kubelet will restart the container to attempt to recover it. This is the intended mechanism for detecting and remediating deadlocked or unresponsive applications.
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.
✗
The pod will fail to start because the probe port mismatches the container port.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; the pod starts, but probe fails later.
✗
The liveness probe will fail, but the pod will still be marked as Ready.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; readiness is separate; liveness failure causes restart, but pod may be ready initially.
✓
The liveness probe will fail, causing the container to be restarted.
Why this is correct
Correct; liveness probe failure leads to restart.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The pod will run successfully because the probe is not required.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; the probe will fail and cause restarts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between probe failure and pod startup failure—candidates mistakenly think a misconfigured probe prevents the pod from starting, but Kubernetes always starts the container first and then evaluates probes asynchronously.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, kubelet executes the liveness probe by sending an HTTP GET request to the specified port and path (default path is '/'). If the probe fails, kubelet increments a failure counter; once the counter reaches the `failureThreshold` (default 3), kubelet sends a SIGTERM to the container's PID 1, then waits for the `terminationGracePeriodSeconds` (default 30) before sending SIGKILL. In real-world scenarios, this misconfiguration can cause a crash loop where the container restarts indefinitely, consuming cluster resources and potentially triggering alerts or pod eviction.
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 KCNA 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 KCNA question in full detail.
Kubernetes Fundamentals — This question tests Kubernetes Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The liveness probe will fail, causing the container to be restarted. — The liveness probe is configured to check port 8080, but the container only listens on port 80. Since the probe will never receive a successful HTTP response from port 8080, it will fail repeatedly. According to Kubernetes behavior, after the failure threshold is reached (default: 3 failures with a 10-second interval), kubelet will restart the container to attempt to recover it. This is the intended mechanism for detecting and remediating deadlocked or unresponsive applications.
What should I do if I get this KCNA 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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