XK0-006 System Management Practice Question
A Linux administrator is preparing a new server that uses systemd-boot as the boot loader. The administrator wants to verify the current boot loader entries and their order. Which command should the administrator run?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that efibootmgr shows systemd-boot entry order, but efibootmgr only shows UEFI firmware boot entries, not systemd-boot configuration files.
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
✓
bootctl list
The bootctl list command displays all systemd-boot entries and their sequence, which is exactly what the administrator needs to verify the boot loader configuration on a system using systemd-boot. The other tools either manage different boot loaders (GRUB), interact with UEFI firmware (efibootmgr), or assume systemd-boot is a service (systemctl), so they do not provide the required information.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
efibootmgr -v
Why it's wrong here
efibootmgr is a tool for managing UEFI boot entries stored in NVRAM. While it can display boot order, it does not show systemd-boot's own entry configuration files (e.g., /boot/loader/entries/*.conf). The question specifically asks about systemd-boot entries and their order, which are managed by bootctl, not efibootmgr.
- ✗
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Why it's wrong here
grub-mkconfig generates a GRUB configuration file. This system uses systemd-boot, not GRUB, so running this command would be irrelevant and could even create an unused GRUB configuration. It does not list or manage systemd-boot entries, making it incorrect for the stated goal.
- ✗
systemctl status systemd-boot
Why it's wrong here
systemd-boot is not a systemd service; it is a boot loader. Therefore, systemctl status systemd-boot would fail to find a unit. The correct tool to inspect boot loader entries and their order is bootctl. This option misinterprets the boot loader as a service, leading to an incorrect answer.
- ✓
bootctl list
Why this is correct
The bootctl command is the systemd-boot manager. With the list subcommand, it enumerates all boot loader entries found in the EFI system partition and shows their order, including the default entry. This directly fulfills the requirement to verify the current entries and their order on a system using systemd-boot.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux Fundamentals and History
Key term
systemctl
systemctl is the command-line tool used to inspect, start, stop, enable, or disable services managed by the systemd init system in Linux.
Key term
GRUB
GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) is a boot loader package that loads and manages the operating system startup process on Linux and other Unix-like systems.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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