Quick Answer
The answer is renice -n 10 -p 4521, which directly adjusts the CPU priority of a running process by modifying its "niceness" value. The renice command is specifically designed to change the scheduling priority of an existing process without affecting its memory allocation or other resources, using the -n flag to set a new niceness level (higher values mean lower priority) and -p to target the process by PID. On the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish renice from nice (which only sets priority when launching a new process) and from chrt (which manages real-time scheduling, not standard niceness). A common trap is confusing the syntax order or using nice instead of renice, so remember: "renice for running, nice for new." A helpful memory tip is to think of "re-nice" as "re-prioritize" — you can only re-prioritize something that already exists.
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 notices that a critical application's process is consuming too much CPU, affecting other services. The administrator needs to reduce the CPU priority of that process without affecting its memory or other resources. The process PID is 4521. 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.
renice -n 10 -p 4521
Correct syntax for changing priority of a running process.
nice -n 10 -p 4521
Why wrong: nice is for starting processes with a given priority, not changing running ones.
renice -p 4521 10
Why wrong: Incorrect syntax; priority should be specified with -n.
chrt -p 10 4521
Why wrong: chrt sets real-time scheduling policy, not niceness.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
renice -n 10 -p 4521
The renice command changes the niceness of an existing process. The correct syntax is 'renice -n 10 -p 4521'. Option A uses nice, which is for starting processes. Option C has incorrect order. Option D uses chrt for real-time scheduling, not niceness.
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.
renice -n 10 -p 4521
Why this is correct
Correct syntax for changing priority of a running process.
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.
nice -n 10 -p 4521
Why it's wrong here
nice is for starting processes with a given priority, not changing running ones.
renice -p 4521 10
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect syntax; priority should be specified with -n.
chrt -p 10 4521
Why it's wrong here
chrt sets real-time scheduling policy, not niceness.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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 XK0-005 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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: renice -n 10 -p 4521 — The renice command changes the niceness of an existing process. The correct syntax is 'renice -n 10 -p 4521'. Option A uses nice, which is for starting processes. Option C has incorrect order. Option D uses chrt for real-time scheduling, not niceness.
Identify which XK0-005 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 24, 2026
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