XK0-006 Troubleshooting Practice Question
A Linux administrator is troubleshooting intermittent application failures on a server. They suspect resource exhaustion. Which TWO commands can be used to check current system resource limits and usage for a running process? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is using ulimit -a, which only reflects the current shell, instead of inspecting the running process's own /proc entries where the effective limits are recorded.
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
✓
cat /proc/<PID>/status
Diagnosing resource exhaustion in an already-running process requires inspecting that process's effective limits and current usage. The /proc/<PID>/limits file lists the soft and hard limits the process actually runs under, while /proc/<PID>/status reports live usage counters such as resident memory and thread counts. Together they let the administrator compare usage against limits without relying on the current shell's settings.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
nice -n 10 <command>
Why it's wrong here
The nice command adjusts CPU scheduling priority when launching a program. It has no relationship to resource limits such as open files, memory, or process counts, and it only affects newly started processes. Using it would not reveal or remediate resource exhaustion. It is a scheduling tool, not a diagnostic for limits, so it does not satisfy the requirement to check limits and usage for a running process.
- ✓
cat /proc/<PID>/status
Why this is correct
The /proc/<PID>/status file includes the process's current resource usage fields such as VmRSS, Threads, and open file descriptor counts, along with many state details. Comparing these values against the limits in /proc/<PID>/limits helps confirm whether the process is approaching a ceiling. It provides a live snapshot of the specific process, which is exactly what is needed when investigating intermittent exhaustion of an already-running application.
- ✗
ulimit -a
Why it's wrong here
ulimit -a displays the resource limits of the current shell and its subsequently launched children. It does not reflect the limits of an already-running process, which may have inherited different values from a service manager or a different parent. To diagnose an existing application, the administrator must inspect that process directly. Therefore ulimit -a is not the correct tool for checking a running process's effective limits.
- ✓
cat /proc/<PID>/limits
Why this is correct
The /proc/<PID>/limits file exposes the soft and hard resource limits in effect for a specific process, including open files, processes, and memory. This is essential when diagnosing failures caused by limits inherited at process start. Since limits can differ per process based on the parent shell or service manager configuration, inspecting the actual PID reveals the effective constraints rather than the invoking user's current shell limits.
- ✗
systemctl status <service>
Why it's wrong here
systemctl status shows whether a unit is active, its recent log lines, and main PID, but it does not enumerate resource limits such as open file descriptors or process counts. While it can reveal that a service failed, it does not expose the numeric limit values that would confirm resource exhaustion. It is useful context but not a command for checking per-process resource limits or usage.
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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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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