- A
ping -c 4 example.com
Ping tests ICMP echo to verify network reachability.
- B
dig -x example.com
Why wrong: dig is for DNS queries, not connectivity.
- C
lsof -i :443
Why wrong: lsof shows local open files, not network reachability.
- D
ss -tlnp | grep 443
Why wrong: ss checks local listening ports, not remote connectivity.
Question 288 of 1,000
XK0-005 Troubleshooting Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 user reports that a web server is unreachable. The administrator runs 'curl -I https://example.com' and gets no response. Which command should be used next to check if the server is reachable at the network level?
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.
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
✓
ping -c 4 example.com
The `curl -I` command failed to get a response, which could be due to a network-level issue rather than an application-layer problem. The `ping` command uses ICMP echo requests to test basic IP-level connectivity to the host, bypassing higher-layer protocols like HTTP/TLS. If the server is unreachable at the network layer, `ping` will show packet loss or timeouts, confirming a routing or firewall issue.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ping -c 4 example.com
Why this is correct
Ping tests ICMP echo to verify network reachability.
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.
- ✗
dig -x example.com
Why it's wrong here
dig is for DNS queries, not connectivity.
- ✗
lsof -i :443
Why it's wrong here
lsof shows local open files, not network reachability.
- ✗
ss -tlnp | grep 443
Why it's wrong here
ss checks local listening ports, not remote connectivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose `ss` or `lsof` because they are familiar with checking local services, but these commands cannot test remote reachability, which is the core of the question.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
lsof shows local open files, not network reachability.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ICMP echo requests (ping) operate at the Internet layer of the TCP/IP model (Layer 3), using protocol number 1. Unlike TCP or UDP, ICMP does not use ports, so it can reveal connectivity issues even when firewalls block higher-layer protocols. In practice, some networks block ICMP for security, so a failed ping does not always mean the host is down, but a successful ping confirms basic IP reachability, which is the first step in troubleshooting a web server outage.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this XK0-005 question test?
Troubleshooting — This question tests Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ping -c 4 example.com — The `curl -I` command failed to get a response, which could be due to a network-level issue rather than an application-layer problem. The `ping` command uses ICMP echo requests to test basic IP-level connectivity to the host, bypassing higher-layer protocols like HTTP/TLS. If the server is unreachable at the network layer, `ping` will show packet loss or timeouts, confirming a routing or firewall issue.
What should I do if I get this XK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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