This KCNA practice question tests your understanding of kubernetes fundamentals. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 have a Deployment that runs a web application. You need to expose this application externally on a fixed port using a cloud load balancer. Which Service type should you use?
NodePort
Why wrong: NodePort exposes the service on a static port on each node's IP, but does not provision a cloud load balancer.
LoadBalancer
LoadBalancer provisions an external load balancer and assigns a fixed external IP.
ExternalName
Why wrong: ExternalName maps the service to an external DNS name, not a load balancer.
ClusterIP
Why wrong: ClusterIP only exposes the service internally within the cluster.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
LoadBalancer
A LoadBalancer Service type provisions an external cloud load balancer (e.g., AWS ELB, GCP TCP/UDP Load Balancer) that exposes the application on a fixed port (typically 80/443) and distributes traffic to the Pods. This is the correct choice because the requirement explicitly asks for a cloud load balancer with a fixed external port, which is exactly what LoadBalancer provides by integrating with the underlying cloud provider's API.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
NodePort
Why it's wrong here
NodePort exposes the service on a static port on each node's IP, but does not provision a cloud load balancer.
LoadBalancer
Why this is correct
LoadBalancer provisions an external load balancer and assigns a fixed external IP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ExternalName
Why it's wrong here
ExternalName maps the service to an external DNS name, not a load balancer.
ClusterIP
Why it's wrong here
ClusterIP only exposes the service internally within the cluster.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the misconception that NodePort is sufficient for external access, but the question's requirement for a 'cloud load balancer' and 'fixed port' (like 80/443) disqualifies NodePort because it uses a high port range and lacks cloud LB integration.
Detailed technical explanation
When a LoadBalancer Service is created, Kubernetes sends a request to the cloud provider's API (e.g., AWS EC2, GCP Compute Engine) to provision a load balancer with a public IP. The cloud load balancer then forwards traffic from its frontend port (e.g., 80) to the NodePort on each worker node, which in turn routes to the target Pods via kube-proxy. A subtle behavior is that the cloud load balancer's health checks target the NodePort, not the Pod directly, so the Service's `externalTrafficPolicy` (default: Cluster) can affect source IP preservation and load distribution.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Kubernetes Fundamentals — This question tests Kubernetes Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: LoadBalancer — A LoadBalancer Service type provisions an external cloud load balancer (e.g., AWS ELB, GCP TCP/UDP Load Balancer) that exposes the application on a fixed port (typically 80/443) and distributes traffic to the Pods. This is the correct choice because the requirement explicitly asks for a cloud load balancer with a fixed external port, which is exactly what LoadBalancer provides by integrating with the underlying cloud provider's API.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This KCNA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the KCNA exam.
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