easyMultiple Choice
XK0-006 A server is experiencing high CPU load Practice Question
A server is experiencing high CPU load. The administrator needs to identify which process is consuming the most CPU resources in real time. Which command should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers choose `ps aux --sort=-%cpu` because it shows CPU-sorted output, but they overlook the requirement for real-time monitoring, which `top` uniquely provides through continuous updates.
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
✓
top
The `top` command provides a real-time, dynamic view of running processes, including CPU usage, and updates continuously by default. It is the standard tool for identifying which process is currently consuming the most CPU resources on a Linux system.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
w
Why it's wrong here
w lists logged-in users and their load averages, not per-process CPU consumption, so it cannot identify the offending process. It is tempting because its header shows the same load averages as uptime, making it useful for a quick check of overall system pressure when no process-level breakdown is required.
- ✗
vmstat
Why it's wrong here
vmstat reports system-wide CPU, memory and I/O counters, not per-process attribution, so it cannot name the top consumer. It is tempting because it reveals overall CPU saturation and run-queue depth, making it the right tool for diagnosing whether the host itself is CPU-bound rather than which process is responsible.
- ✗
uptime
Why it's wrong here
uptime prints only load averages and current time, giving no per-process CPU data, so it cannot name the top consumer. It is tempting because rising load averages confirm the host is overloaded, making it the right first check when you only need to establish whether CPU contention exists before drilling deeper.
- ✗
ps aux --sort=-%cpu
Why it's wrong here
ps aux --sort=-%cpu reports a snapshot of CPU percentage averaged over each process's lifetime, not live per-process consumption, so it can mislead during a spike. It is tempting because it sorts processes by CPU, making it correct for a one-off ranked listing when real-time refresh is unnecessary.
- ✓
top
Why this is correct
`top` refreshes process statistics every few seconds, sorting by CPU consumption by default, so the administrator sees the heaviest process live. It satisfies the real-time constraint directly, unlike `ps`, which captures a single static snapshot and would require repeated manual invocations to track shifting load.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Process Management and System Monitoring
Key term
Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system that manages computer hardware and software, widely used in servers, desktops, and embedded systems.
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
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