easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
XK0-006 A web server is experiencing high load Practice Question
A web server is experiencing high load. The administrator wants to identify the processes consuming the most CPU. Which TWO commands can be used to display real-time process CPU usage?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between system-wide monitoring tools (iostat, vmstat) and per-process tools (top, ps), leading candidates to mistakenly choose iostat or vmstat when the question explicitly asks for processes consuming the most CPU.
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
✓
top
(top) is correct because it provides a real-time, dynamic view of system processes, including CPU usage, and updates continuously by default. Option E (ps aux --sort=-%cpu) is also correct because it lists all processes sorted by CPU usage in descending order, though it is a snapshot rather than continuous; however, the question asks for commands that can be used to display real-time process CPU usage, and ps with the --sort flag can be run repeatedly to approximate real-time monitoring.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
lsof
Why it's wrong here
Lists open files, not CPU usage.
- ✗
iostat
Why it's wrong here
Reports I/O statistics, not CPU per process.
- ✗
vmstat
Why it's wrong here
Reports system-wide CPU stats, not per process.
- ✓
top
Why this is correct
Correct: Real-time process viewer with CPU usage.
- ✓
ps aux --sort=-%cpu
Why this is correct
Correct: Sorts processes by CPU usage in snapshot.
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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.