easyMultiple Select
XK0-006 Practice Question: A Linux administrator is writing a systemd…
A Linux administrator is writing a systemd service unit file. Which three of the following directives are valid in the [Service] section? (Select THREE.)
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between `[Unit]` and `[Service]` section directives, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly apply dependency or ordering directives like `After` or `Requires` to the `[Service]` section, when they are only valid in `[Unit]`.
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
✓
Restart
Option A, Restart, is valid in the [Service] section and controls whether and how systemd restarts the service after it exits (e.g., Restart=on-failure). Option D, User, is valid in the [Service] section and specifies the UNIX user account under which the service process is executed. Option E, ExecStart, is valid in the [Service] section and defines the command line that systemd runs to start the service. Options B (After) and C (Requires) are not valid in [Service]; they are dependency/ordering directives that belong in the [Unit] section of the unit file.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Restart
Why this is correct
Restart is a valid [Service] directive controlling whether systemd restarts the unit after exit, with values such as always, on-failure or no. It belongs in the [Service] section alongside ExecStart and User, unlike [Unit] or [Install] directives.
- ✗
After
Why it's wrong here
After is a [Unit] section directive controlling start-up ordering relative to other units; systemd does not recognise it inside [Service]. It is tempting because ordering feels tied to how the service starts, yet After belongs with unit dependencies, not process execution settings.
- ✗
Requires
Why it's wrong here
Requires belongs in the [Unit] section, expressing a hard dependency on another unit; placing it in [Service] makes systemd ignore or reject it. It is tempting because dependency directives feel service-related, but Requires governs unit ordering and activation, not the service process itself.
- ✓
User
Why this is correct
User is a valid [Service] directive, setting the UNIX account the service process runs as, which drops privileges from root. It belongs in [Service], not [Unit] or [Install], satisfying the question's requirement for a valid directive.
- ✓
ExecStart
Why this is correct
ExecStart is a valid [Service] directive specifying the command systemd runs to start the unit. It is fundamental to service units and correctly placed in [Service], satisfying the question's requirement for a valid directive in that section.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
File Permissions and Ownership
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
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.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This XK0-006 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the XK0-006 exam.