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XK0-006 Practice Question: A Linux administrator is troubleshooting a server…
A Linux administrator is troubleshooting a server that has become unresponsive. The administrator connects via IPMI and runs 'top' but the process list does not show any obvious CPU or memory hog. Which TWO commands could be used to identify I/O wait issues or disk bottlenecks? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently choose `vmstat 1` because it shows the `wa` column, but they overlook that it does not provide per-disk or per-process granularity needed to identify the specific source of I/O wait.
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
✓
iostat -x 1
`iostat -x 1` provides extended disk I/O statistics, including `%util` (percentage of time the device was busy servicing requests) and `await` (average time for I/O operations). These metrics directly indicate disk bottlenecks and I/O wait issues. `iotop -o` displays only processes that are currently performing I/O operations, allowing the administrator to identify which specific processes are causing disk contention.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
iostat -x 1
Why this is correct
iostat -x shows extended I/O statistics per device.
- ✓
iotop -o
Why this is correct
iotop -o shows only processes with I/O activity.
- ✗
vmstat 1
Why it's wrong here
vmstat shows system summary, not per-process I/O.
- ✗
sar -b 1
Why it's wrong here
sar -b shows I/O statistics but requires sysstat package and data collection.
- ✗
dstat --disk-util
Why it's wrong here
dstat can show disk utilization, but not as detailed as iostat.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux Fundamentals and History
Key term
Process
In IT service management, a process is a structured set of activities designed to accomplish a specific objective, such as managing incidents or changes, by transforming inputs into defined outputs.
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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