mediumMultiple Select
XK0-006 Practice Question: A system administrator wants to automate server…
A system administrator wants to automate server configuration and management across multiple Linux hosts. Which TWO tools are configuration management solutions designed for this purpose? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse containerization (Docker) or orchestration (Kubernetes) with configuration management, or mistake monitoring (Nagios) for a tool that configures systems, when the question specifically asks for tools that automate server configuration and management across multiple hosts.
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
✓
Puppet
Puppet (D) is a declarative configuration management tool that uses a master-agent architecture with manifests and modules to enforce desired state across many Linux hosts, making it a correct fit for automating server configuration and management. Ansible (E) is also a configuration management solution that uses agentless SSH connections and YAML playbooks to push configuration and orchestrate tasks across multiple hosts, so it is correct as well. Docker (A) is a containerization platform for packaging and running applications, not a configuration management tool for enforcing host configuration. Nagios (B) is a monitoring and alerting system, not a configuration management solution. Kubernetes (C) is a container orchestration platform for deploying and managing containerized workloads, not a general Linux configuration management tool.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Docker
Why it's wrong here
Docker builds and runs containerised application images; it does not maintain declarative desired-state configuration across hosts. It is tempting because containers are often provisioned alongside configuration management, and Docker would be the right answer for packaging and shipping an application's runtime dependencies rather than configuring many servers.
- ✗
Nagios
Why it's wrong here
Nagios polls hosts and services and raises alerts on state changes; it performs no configuration enforcement. It is tempting because it also targets many Linux hosts centrally, and it would be the right choice for monitoring availability and notifying administrators, not for applying and maintaining a desired configuration.
- ✗
Kubernetes
Why it's wrong here
Kubernetes orchestrates container scheduling and lifecycle, not host-level package, file and service state. It is tempting because it manages fleets of machines declaratively, and it would be correct for deploying and scaling containerised workloads across a cluster rather than configuring the underlying Linux hosts themselves.
- ✓
Puppet
Why this is correct
Puppet is a declarative configuration management tool using a master-agent architecture and its own DSL to enforce desired state across managed Linux hosts. This satisfies the stem's requirement for a configuration management solution by automating server configuration at scale.
- ✓
Ansible
Why this is correct
Ansible is an agentless configuration management tool that pushes modules over SSH using YAML playbooks to enforce state across Linux hosts. This satisfies the stem's requirement for a configuration management solution by automating server configuration without installing persistent agents.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Logical Volume Management (LVM)
Key term
SSH
SSH (Secure Shell) is a cryptographic network protocol that provides secure, encrypted communication and remote administration between two devices over an unsecured network.
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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JA
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.