XK0-006 System Management Practice Question
A system administrator wants to ensure that a service starts automatically at boot time using systemd. Which command should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
XK0-006 often tests the difference between start (runtime) and enable (boot-time persistence) — candidates pick 'start' because the question mentions 'starts automatically,' conflating immediate start with boot-time enablement.
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
✓
systemctl enable service
systemctl enable service creates the necessary symlinks so the service's unit is pulled into the appropriate systemd target at boot, ensuring it starts automatically. This is the standard systemd command for enabling a service at boot time. It does not start the service immediately, but it guarantees it will start on the next boot.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
systemctl start service
Why it's wrong here
systemctl start launches the unit only in the current session; it writes no enablement symlink, so the service does not come back after reboot. It is tempting because start is the everyday command for bringing a service up, and would be correct when the task is to run a service now rather than persist it across boots.
- ✗
systemctl daemon-reload
Why it's wrong here
systemctl daemon-reload only re-reads unit files after they change on disk; it creates no symlink in the target's wants directory, so nothing is enabled at boot. It is tempting because it is routinely run alongside enablement when editing units, and would be correct immediately after modifying a unit file so systemd picks up the new definition.
- ✗
systemctl reenable service
Why it's wrong here
systemctl reenable removes and recreates enablement symlinks for a unit already enabled; on a disabled service it does not establish boot-time activation, so the requirement is unmet. It is tempting because reenable sounds like it turns a service on, and would be correct to refresh symlinks after changing a unit's [Install] section.
- ✓
systemctl enable service
Why this is correct
`systemctl enable service` creates the symbolic links in the systemd unit directories that cause the service to be pulled into the boot transaction, satisfying the requirement that it start automatically at boot. It does not start the unit immediately, unlike `systemctl start`, which affects only the current session.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.