This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 identify which processes are consuming the most memory on a Linux server. Which two commands can be used? (Select TWO).
vmstat
Why wrong: Reports system memory, swap, and processes, but not per-process.
ps -aux
Can be sorted by memory usage using --sort=-%mem.
free -m
Why wrong: Displays total, used, and free memory, not per-process usage.
top
Displays live process list with memory usage.
df -h
Why wrong: Shows disk space usage, not memory.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ps -aux
The `ps -aux` command displays all running processes with detailed information, including memory usage (%MEM and RSS). The `top` command provides a real-time, interactive view of processes sorted by memory consumption by default. Both commands directly show per-process memory usage, making them suitable for identifying the most memory-intensive processes.
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.
vmstat
Why it's wrong here
Reports system memory, swap, and processes, but not per-process.
ps -aux
Why this is correct
Can be sorted by memory usage using --sort=-%mem.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
free -m
Why it's wrong here
Displays total, used, and free memory, not per-process usage.
top
Why this is correct
Displays live process list with memory usage.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
df -h
Why it's wrong here
Shows disk space usage, not memory.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse system-wide memory reporting commands (like `free` or `vmstat`) with per-process memory analysis tools, leading them to select options that show total memory usage rather than identifying which specific processes are consuming it.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows disk space usage, not memory.
Detailed technical explanation
The `ps -aux` command reads the /proc filesystem to gather process information, including RSS (Resident Set Size) and %MEM, which represent physical memory usage. The `top` command uses the same /proc data but updates it dynamically, allowing sorting by memory column (M key) to identify top consumers. In real-world scenarios, a memory leak can be detected by observing a process's RSS growing over time in `top` or repeated `ps` snapshots.
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Troubleshooting — This question tests Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ps -aux — The `ps -aux` command displays all running processes with detailed information, including memory usage (%MEM and RSS). The `top` command provides a real-time, interactive view of processes sorted by memory consumption by default. Both commands directly show per-process memory usage, making them suitable for identifying the most memory-intensive processes.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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