XK0-006 System Management Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a service that fails to start at boot. Which systemctl command should be used to ensure the service starts automatically on subsequent boots?
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 creates symlinks so the service starts at boot. The status shown by is-enabled confirms if it is enabled.
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 mask service
Why it's wrong here
mask links the unit to /dev/null, making it impossible to start at all, including at boot, which is the opposite of the requirement. It is tempting because masking prevents unwanted activation, and it would be the correct choice when a service must be permanently blocked. Here, the unit must start automatically, so enable is required.
- ✗
systemctl start service
Why it's wrong here
start launches the unit only for the current session; it creates no enablement symlinks, so the service will not run on subsequent boots. It is tempting because it immediately brings the service up, and it would be the correct choice for a one-off manual run. Here, systemctl enable is required.
- ✓
systemctl enable service
Why this is correct
`systemctl enable` creates the symlinks under the systemd unit's `Wanted` directory, wiring the service into the boot target so systemd starts it automatically on every subsequent boot. It satisfies the stem's requirement for persistent automatic startup, unlike `start`, which only launches the unit for the current session.
- ✗
systemctl reenable service
Why it's wrong here
reenable re-applies the existing enablement symlinks after a disable; it does not create them if the unit was never enabled, so boot startup is not guaranteed. It is tempting because it sounds like a repair command, and it would be the correct choice when restoring symlinks a prior disable removed. Here, systemctl enable is required.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
System Troubleshooting and Performance Tuning
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
systemctl
systemctl is the command-line tool used to inspect, start, stop, enable, or disable services managed by the systemd init system in Linux.
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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.