This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of system management. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 technician needs to find out which port the SSH daemon is listening on. Which command will show this information?
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.
lsof -i :22
Why wrong: Shows processes using port 22 but requires root and is less comprehensive.
nmap -p 22 localhost
Why wrong: Requires nmap and only checks a specific port.
netstat -i
Why wrong: Shows interface statistics, not listening ports.
ss -tlnp
Lists all listening TCP sockets with port numbers and process info.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ss -tlnp
The `ss -tlnp` command displays listening TCP sockets with numeric addresses and the associated process information. The `-t` flag filters for TCP, `-l` shows only listening sockets, `-n` prevents DNS resolution, and `-p` reveals the PID and program name. Since SSH daemon (sshd) listens on TCP port 22 by default, this command will show the listening port and the sshd process.
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.
lsof -i :22
Why it's wrong here
Shows processes using port 22 but requires root and is less comprehensive.
nmap -p 22 localhost
Why it's wrong here
Requires nmap and only checks a specific port.
netstat -i
Why it's wrong here
Shows interface statistics, not listening ports.
ss -tlnp
Why this is correct
Lists all listening TCP sockets with port numbers and process info.
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.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose `lsof -i :22` because it shows port 22 activity, but they overlook that it does not specifically filter for listening sockets and may require elevated privileges, whereas `ss -tlnp` is the precise tool for listing listening daemons.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows processes using port 22 but requires root and is less comprehensive.
Detailed technical explanation
The `ss` command reads socket information directly from the kernel's netlink interface, making it faster and more modern than `netstat`. In a real-world scenario, if SSH is configured on a non-default port (e.g., 2222), `ss -tlnp` will show that port in the LISTEN state with the sshd process, allowing the technician to confirm the actual listening port without relying on configuration files.
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
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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: ss -tlnp — The `ss -tlnp` command displays listening TCP sockets with numeric addresses and the associated process information. The `-t` flag filters for TCP, `-l` shows only listening sockets, `-n` prevents DNS resolution, and `-p` reveals the PID and program name. Since SSH daemon (sshd) listens on TCP port 22 by default, this command will show the listening port and the sshd process.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 11, 2026
This XK0-005 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 XK0-005 exam.
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