easyMultiple Choice
XK0-006 Practice Question: A system administrator needs to run a script…
A system administrator needs to run a script every 15 minutes. Which systemd unit type is used to schedule this?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates familiar with traditional Linux scheduling immediately think of cron, but the question explicitly asks for a 'systemd unit type,' making cron a distractor despite its functional similarity.
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
✓
systemd timer
Systemd timers are the native systemd unit type for scheduling tasks at specified intervals, such as every 15 minutes. They replace traditional cron jobs in systemd-based Linux distributions and are defined with a .timer unit file that triggers a corresponding .service unit. This makes option A correct because the question explicitly asks for the systemd unit type used for scheduling.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
systemd timer
Why this is correct
A systemd timer unit triggers another unit on a schedule defined by OnCalendar, replacing cron for recurring jobs. Defining a timer with a 15-minute OnCalendar interval satisfies the requirement to run the script every 15 minutes.
- ✗
at job
Why it's wrong here
The at daemon runs a command once at a specified future time, so it cannot repeat every 15 minutes. It is the right tool for one-off deferred execution, such as scheduling a single maintenance command to run later tonight.
- ✗
anacron
Why it's wrong here
Anacron schedules jobs by day, not by minute, so it cannot trigger a script every 15 minutes. It is tempting because it handles periodic maintenance on machines that are not continuously powered, running missed daily, weekly or monthly tasks at boot; that is its actual purpose, not sub-hourly scheduling.
- ✗
cron job
Why it's wrong here
Cron schedules by wall-clock time independently of systemd, so it cannot be declared as a systemd unit type at all; the question asks which unit type handles scheduling. It tempts because cron genuinely runs recurring jobs every 15 minutes, and would be correct if the scenario permitted any scheduling tool rather than systemd units.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Installing Linux and Package Management
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
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.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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