hardMultiple Choice
XK0-006 Practice Question: After a kernel update, the system boots but the…
After a kernel update, the system boots but the network interface enp0s3 is not detected. The administrator verifies that the kernel module for the NIC is built for the new kernel. Which of the following should be done to ensure the module loads correctly?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume loading the module with modprobe (Option A) will fix the issue, but they overlook that the module must be available in the initramfs to be loaded during early boot before the root filesystem is accessible.
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
✓
Rebuild the initramfs
After a kernel update, the initramfs (initial RAM filesystem) must be rebuilt to include the new kernel's modules. Even though the NIC module is built for the new kernel, the initramfs may still contain the old kernel's modules or lack the new module entirely, preventing it from being loaded during early boot. Running `dracut -f` (or `update-initramfs -u` on Debian-based systems) rebuilds the initramfs to match the current kernel, ensuring the NIC module is available at boot time.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Load the module with modprobe
Why it's wrong here
Loading the module once with modprobe is a runtime action that does not survive reboot, so the interface fails again after the next restart. It is tempting because modprobe is the standard tool for inserting a module immediately, and it would be correct for one-off testing or recovery before making the load persistent.
- ✓
Rebuild the initramfs
Why this is correct
Rebuilding the initramfs bundles the NIC kernel module into the early-boot image, so it is available before the root filesystem mounts. Since the module exists for the new kernel but enp0s3 remains undetected, the stale initramfs lacks it; regenerating with dracut or update-initramfs satisfies the load-at-boot requirement.
- ✗
Update the udev rules
Why it's wrong here
udev rules govern device naming and permissions once a driver has bound, so they cannot cause a missing module to load. It is tempting because udev manages interface names like enp0s3, but the correct action is configuring the module to load at boot via /etc/modules-load.d or initramfs.
- ✗
Reinstall the kernel package
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling the kernel package replaces the kernel image and modules but does not register the NIC module for automatic loading at boot. It is tempting because it refreshes kernel components, yet the correct fix is adding the module to /etc/modules-load.d or an initramfs entry so it loads on startup.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Navigating the Filesystem
Key term
Kernel
The kernel is the core program of an operating system that manages hardware resources and provides essential services for all other software to run.
Key term
Kernel module
A kernel module is a piece of code that can be loaded into or removed from the Linux kernel at runtime to add or remove support for hardware, filesystems, or system calls without rebooting.
About these practice questions
One of 781 original XK0-006 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.