easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
XK0-006 Practice Question: A system administrator needs to determine which…
A system administrator needs to determine which process is using the most memory on a Linux server. Which command should be used to display processes sorted by memory usage?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between commands that show system-wide memory statistics (like `free` or `vmstat`) versus commands that display per-process memory usage (like `ps` or `top`), and candidates may mistakenly choose `free -m` because it shows memory usage, even though it does not identify which process is consuming the most memory.
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 aux --sort=-%mem
`ps aux --sort=-%mem` lists all processes with detailed information and sorts them by memory usage in descending order, showing the most memory-intensive process first. The `-%mem` flag specifies sorting by the %MEM column (resident set size as a percentage of total physical memory) in reverse order, which directly answers the requirement to determine which process is using the most memory.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
top -o %MEM
Why it's wrong here
top is interactive and not ideal for scripting.
- ✗
vmstat 1 5
Why it's wrong here
Shows system statistics, not per process memory.
- ✓
ps aux --sort=-%mem
Why this is correct
Correctly sorts processes by memory usage descending.
- ✗
free -m
Why it's wrong here
Shows overall memory usage, not per process.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux Fundamentals and History
Key term
Process
In IT service management, a process is a structured set of activities designed to accomplish a specific objective, such as managing incidents or changes, by transforming inputs into defined outputs.
Key term
Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system that manages computer hardware and software, widely used in servers, desktops, and embedded systems.
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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.