XK0-006 Troubleshooting Practice Question
A Linux administrator is troubleshooting a server that randomly drops SSH connections. The administrator suspects a network interface is experiencing errors or discards. Which command should be used to display detailed error and discard statistics for a specific network interface?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any interface statistics command will provide the same level of detail, when older or driver-specific tools may lack the necessary error and discard counters.
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
✓
ip -s link show eth0
The administrator needs error and discard statistics for a specific interface. ip -s link show eth0 provides a standardized, detailed view of RX/TX errors, dropped packets, and overruns. While other tools may show some statistics, ip is the modern, reliable choice and directly meets the requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ip -s link show eth0
Why this is correct
The ip -s link show command displays interface statistics, including RX/TX errors, dropped packets, and overruns. By specifying eth0, the administrator can see detailed counters that indicate whether the interface is experiencing errors or discards, which could explain dropped SSH sessions. This directly addresses the need to inspect error and discard statistics for a specific interface.
- ✗
netstat -i
Why it's wrong here
netstat -i shows a table of interfaces with basic statistics like MTU, RX-OK, RX-ERR, RX-DRP, and TX-OK, but it is deprecated in favor of ip and may not be installed by default on modern distributions. While it does show some error and drop counters, it lacks the detailed breakdown and is less reliable for current systems. It is not the best choice here.
- ✗
ifconfig eth0
Why it's wrong here
ifconfig displays interface configuration and some statistics such as RX errors, dropped, and overruns, but it is also deprecated and may not be present on newer Linux systems. It provides less detail than ip -s link and does not show separate TX/RX error counters as clearly. For a modern troubleshooting scenario, it is not the preferred tool.
- ✗
ethtool -S eth0
Why it's wrong here
ethtool -S displays driver-level statistics for the interface, which can include error and discard counters, but these are hardware/driver-specific and not standardized. The output varies by NIC driver, and it may not provide the generic error and discard counts that the administrator needs. Therefore, it is not the most reliable or direct command for this scenario.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Installing Linux and Package Management
Key term
SSH
SSH (Secure Shell) is a cryptographic network protocol that provides secure, encrypted communication and remote administration between two devices over an unsecured 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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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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