easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
XK0-006 Practice Question: A service fails to start and journalctl shows…
A service fails to start and journalctl shows 'Permission denied'. What should the administrator check first?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to firewall rules or package integrity because they associate 'Permission denied' with network or installation issues, but the XK0-005 exam specifically tests SELinux and file permission troubleshooting for service startup failures.
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
✓
SELinux contexts and file permissions
The 'Permission denied' error in journalctl for a service failure typically indicates that the service process lacks the necessary permissions to access a file, directory, or resource. SELinux contexts and file permissions are the most common causes, as SELinux enforces mandatory access controls (MAC) that can block access even when standard Unix permissions are correct. Checking these first aligns with the troubleshooting principle of verifying access controls before other layers like network or package integrity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Package integrity
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling may fix corrupted files but is not the first step.
- ✗
DNS resolution
Why it's wrong here
DNS is unrelated to local service startup.
- ✗
Firewall rules
Why it's wrong here
Firewall affects network traffic, not local file access.
- ✓
SELinux contexts and file permissions
Why this is correct
SELinux contexts are a common cause of permission denied errors for services.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Installing Linux and Package Management
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
journalctl
Journalctl is a command-line tool used to view and query logs collected by the systemd journal, which stores system and application messages on Linux systems.
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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.