This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of system management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 needs to check the current runlevel on a system that uses systemd. Which command should the administrator use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
hostnamectl
Why wrong: Shows hostname and OS info, not runlevel.
getenforce
Why wrong: Shows SELinux mode, not runlevel.
systemctl get-default
Displays the default target (runlevel equivalent).
uname -r
Why wrong: Shows kernel release, not runlevel.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
systemctl get-default
Option C is correct because `systemctl get-default` displays the default target (runlevel equivalent) on a systemd-based Linux system. Systemd uses targets instead of traditional SysV runlevels, and this command shows which target is set as the default at boot, such as `multi-user.target` or `graphical.target`.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
hostnamectl
Why it's wrong here
Shows hostname and OS info, not runlevel.
getenforce
Why it's wrong here
Shows SELinux mode, not runlevel.
systemctl get-default
Why this is correct
Displays the default target (runlevel equivalent).
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
uname -r
Why it's wrong here
Shows kernel release, not runlevel.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates familiar with SysV init may expect a command like `runlevel` or `who -r`, but systemd uses `systemctl get-default` for the default target and `systemctl list-units --type=target` to see the current active target, not a direct runlevel command.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows hostname and OS info, not runlevel.
Detailed technical explanation
Systemd targets like `multi-user.target` (equivalent to runlevel 3) and `graphical.target` (equivalent to runlevel 5) are defined in unit files located in `/usr/lib/systemd/system/`. The `systemctl get-default` command reads the symlink at `/etc/systemd/system/default.target` to determine the default boot target. To change the default target, administrators use `systemctl set-default <target>`, and to switch the current target without rebooting, they use `systemctl isolate <target>`.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
System Management — This question tests System Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: systemctl get-default — Option C is correct because `systemctl get-default` displays the default target (runlevel equivalent) on a systemd-based Linux system. Systemd uses targets instead of traditional SysV runlevels, and this command shows which target is set as the default at boot, such as `multi-user.target` or `graphical.target`.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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