This KCNA practice question tests your understanding of kubernetes fundamentals. 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 of the following kubectl commands would you use to update a Deployment's image to 'nginx:1.21' and record the change in the rollout history?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
kubectl set image deployment/nginx nginx=nginx:1.21 --record
Option C is correct because `kubectl set image deployment/nginx nginx=nginx:1.21 --record` updates the container image of the specified deployment and, with the `--record` flag, annotates the change in the rollout history (stored in the `kubernetes.io/change-cause` annotation). This allows you to later inspect the change with `kubectl rollout history deployment/nginx`.
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.
✗
kubectl edit deployment nginx --image=nginx:1.21
Why it's wrong here
The --image flag is not valid with edit.
✗
kubectl set image deployment/nginx nginx=nginx:1.21
Why it's wrong here
This updates the image but does not record the change.
✓
kubectl set image deployment/nginx nginx=nginx:1.21 --record
Why this is correct
This updates the image and records the change in the rollout history.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
While this works, it's overly complex; set image is simpler.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the `--record` flag as a subtle requirement; candidates may pick option B because it correctly updates the image but forget that the question explicitly asks to record the change in the rollout history.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `--record` flag works by adding a `kubernetes.io/change-cause` annotation to the Deployment's revision history, which is stored in the `metadata.annotations` of the ReplicaSet created by the rollout. This annotation is visible when you run `kubectl rollout history deployment/nginx`, making it easier to audit changes. In real-world scenarios, teams often use this to track who made what change and why, especially in CI/CD pipelines where automated rollbacks depend on clear revision history.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: kubectl set image deployment/nginx nginx=nginx:1.21 --record — Option C is correct because `kubectl set image deployment/nginx nginx=nginx:1.21 --record` updates the container image of the specified deployment and, with the `--record` flag, annotates the change in the rollout history (stored in the `kubernetes.io/change-cause` annotation). This allows you to later inspect the change with `kubectl rollout history deployment/nginx`.
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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