easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
XK0-006 Practice Question: A system administrator is troubleshooting a…
A system administrator is troubleshooting a server that is experiencing periodic slowdowns. The administrator runs the 'ps aux' command and notices a process named 'cpu_burn' that is consistently using over 90% CPU. The administrator wants to identify which user is running the process and then terminate it. The server runs Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8. Which command should the administrator use to determine the owner of the 'cpu_burn' process?
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
✓
ps -eo pid,user,comm | grep [c]pu_burn
'ps -eo pid,user,comm | grep [c]pu_burn'. This command uses 'ps -e' to list all processes, '-o pid,user,comm' to output only the PID, user, and command name, and then 'grep [c]pu_burn' to filter for the 'cpu_burn' process while avoiding matching the grep command itself (a common trick using a character class). The output shows the user owning the process in the second column. Option A, 'ps -u cpu_burn', attempts to show processes owned by a user named 'cpu_burn', not processes with that name. Option B, 'ps -ef | grep cpu_burn', includes the grep process in the output and does not make the owner column stand out. Option C, 'top -bn1 | grep cpu_burn', is interactive and less efficient for scripting. Therefore, D is the most precise and scriptable method to identify the owner.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ps -u cpu_burn
Why it's wrong here
The -u option expects a user name, not a process name; this would fail.
- ✗
ps -ef | grep cpu_burn
Why it's wrong here
Grep may match partial strings, and output includes many columns; not optimal for identifying the owner.
- ✗
top -bn1 | grep cpu_burn
Why it's wrong here
Top output is not easily parsed for just the user column; it's designed for interactive use.
- ✓
ps -eo pid,user,comm | grep [c]pu_burn
Why this is correct
This shows PID and user for the process, and the bracket trick avoids matching the grep process itself.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux Fundamentals and History
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
Output
In IT service management, output is the result or deliverable produced by a process, system, or component, such as data, reports, or services delivered to a customer.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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