XK0-006 Troubleshooting Practice Question
A Linux administrator is troubleshooting a DNS resolution issue. They need to query the MX record for example.com using a specific DNS server at 8.8.8.8. Which command should they use?
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
✓
dig MX example.com @8.8.8.8
dig @server type name queries a specific DNS server for the specified record type.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
dig MX example.com @8.8.8.8
Why this is correct
The `dig` command with the `MX` query type explicitly requests mail exchange records, and the `@8.8.8.8` argument directs the query to that specific resolver, bypassing the system's default DNS servers. This satisfies the stem's constraint of querying the MX record for example.com while targeting a designated DNS server, rather than relying on local resolution or a different record type.
- ✗
host -t MX example.com 8.8.8.8
Why it's wrong here
host can work but not as standard for this query.
- ✗
nslookup -type=MX example.com 8.8.8.8
Why it's wrong here
nslookup syntax is different; it is not the best tool for this.
- ✗
ping -c 1 example.com
Why it's wrong here
ping does not query MX records.
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Linux Fundamentals and History
Key term
DNS
DNS is the system that translates human-friendly domain names like example.com into machine-readable IP addresses so computers can find each other on a network.
Key term
Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system that manages computer hardware and software, widely used in servers, desktops, and embedded systems.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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