mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
XK0-006 Practice Question: A system administrator is troubleshooting a…
A system administrator is troubleshooting a service that fails to start with the error 'Unit failed to load: Invalid argument'. The service file is located in /etc/systemd/system. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse runtime errors (like missing binaries or dependencies) with parsing errors, but the specific 'Invalid argument' message points directly to a syntax or configuration issue within the unit file itself.
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
✓
The service file has a syntax error
The error 'Unit failed to load: Invalid argument' in systemd indicates that the unit file parser encountered a directive or value it could not interpret. This is most commonly caused by a syntax error in the service file, such as a misspelled key, an invalid setting, or a malformed line. Systemd validates the file structure against its grammar; any deviation triggers this specific error.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The service binary is missing
Why it's wrong here
Missing binary causes 'exec format error' or 'file not found'.
- ✓
The service file has a syntax error
Why this is correct
Syntax errors in the unit file cause 'Invalid argument' error.
- ✗
The service requires a dependency that is not installed
Why it's wrong here
Missing dependency results in 'dependency failed' error.
- ✗
The service is masked
Why it's wrong here
A masked service shows 'Unit is masked' error.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
File Permissions and Ownership
Key term
Value
Value is the perceived worth, benefit, or usefulness that a service, product, or activity delivers to stakeholders, especially customers and the business.
Key term
systemd
systemd is a system and service manager for Linux operating systems that initializes and manages processes, services, and system resources after the kernel boots.
About these practice questions
This XK0-006 question is part of Courseiva's 979-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.