- A
dig example.com
Why wrong: dig is for DNS queries, not latency.
- B
mtr example.com
mtr shows per-hop loss and latency.
- C
ping -c 10 example.com
ping shows packet loss and RTT.
- D
ss -tlnp
Why wrong: ss shows local socket states, not network latency.
- E
traceroute example.com
traceroute shows path and RTT per hop.
Question 571 of 981
XK0-005 Troubleshooting Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A system administrator is investigating a slow website. The web server is responding but pages load slowly. Which THREE commands can help identify network latency or packet loss?
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
✓
mtr example.com
B is correct because `mtr` (My TraceRoute) combines the functionality of `ping` and `traceroute` into a single diagnostic tool. It continuously sends ICMP packets to each hop along the path to the target, displaying per-hop latency and packet loss statistics in real time. This makes it ideal for identifying where network latency or packet loss is occurring between the server and the client, which directly addresses the symptom of a slow website.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
dig example.com
Why it's wrong here
dig is for DNS queries, not latency.
- ✓
mtr example.com
Why this is correct
mtr shows per-hop loss and latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
ping -c 10 example.com
Why this is correct
ping shows packet loss and RTT.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
ss -tlnp
Why it's wrong here
ss shows local socket states, not network latency.
- ✓
traceroute example.com
Why this is correct
traceroute shows path and RTT per hop.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between `traceroute` (which shows a single snapshot of path latency) and `mtr` (which provides ongoing, aggregated statistics including packet loss per hop), leading candidates to overlook `mtr` as a superior tool for diagnosing intermittent or persistent network issues.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
ss shows local socket states, not network latency.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `mtr` sends ICMP Echo Requests (or UDP probes) with increasing TTL values, similar to `traceroute`, but it repeats the probes for each hop over a user-defined interval (default 1 second). This allows it to calculate average, minimum, and maximum round-trip times per hop, as well as the percentage of lost packets. In real-world scenarios, a high packet loss at a specific intermediate router (e.g., a congested ISP peering point) can cause TCP retransmissions and slow page loads, even if the final web server responds.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the XK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this XK0-005 question test?
Troubleshooting — This question tests Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: mtr example.com — B is correct because `mtr` (My TraceRoute) combines the functionality of `ping` and `traceroute` into a single diagnostic tool. It continuously sends ICMP packets to each hop along the path to the target, displaying per-hop latency and packet loss statistics in real time. This makes it ideal for identifying where network latency or packet loss is occurring between the server and the client, which directly addresses the symptom of a slow website.
What should I do if I get this XK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This XK0-005 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 XK0-005 exam.
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