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XK0-006 Practice Question: A developer needs to run a one-time script after…
A developer needs to run a one-time script after the network is up on a systemd-based server. Which unit type should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse `oneshot` with `simple` or `forking`, mistakenly thinking a one-time script needs to remain running (`simple`) or fork into the background (`forking`), but systemd's `oneshot` is explicitly designed for tasks that exit after completion.
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
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oneshot
The `oneshot` unit type is correct because it is designed for services that run a single task to completion and then exit, making it ideal for a one-time script that must execute after the network is up. In systemd, `oneshot` units can be configured with `RemainAfterExit=no` (the default) to indicate they do not need to stay running, and they support ordering dependencies like `After=network-online.target` to ensure the network is available before the script runs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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forking
Why it's wrong here
Forking describes a service whose parent process exits after spawning children, so systemd tracks the wrong PID; it is a service Type value, not a unit type, and cannot express a one-time run. It would suit a daemonising service, but the scenario needs a oneshot unit ordered after network-online.target.
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exec
Why it's wrong here
Exec is not a systemd unit type; it names directives such as ExecStart inside a unit file. It is tempting because the script is executed via ExecStart, but the question asks which unit type schedules a one-time run, and only a oneshot service unit does that after network-online.target.
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simple
Why it's wrong here
Simple is a service Type value where systemd assumes the process started immediately; it is not a unit type and does not mark the unit complete. It suits long-running daemons, whereas a one-time script needs Type=oneshot with RemainAfterExit and ordering after network-online.target.
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oneshot
Why this is correct
A oneshot unit runs a command to completion and then exits, which suits a one-time script rather than a long-running daemon. Pairing it with `After=network-online.target` and `Wants=network-online.target` satisfies the stem's requirement that the script execute only once the network is up.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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