hardMultiple Choice
XK0-006 Practice Question: Ensure that a script runs once at system…
An administrator needs to ensure that a script runs once at system initialization, before any network services start. Which systemd target should the script be associated with?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse sysinit.target with basic.target or multi-user.target, mistakenly thinking that 'basic' or 'multi-user' implies early execution, when in fact sysinit.target is the correct target for pre-network initialization tasks.
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
✓
sysinit.target
The sysinit.target is the correct target because it is designed for early system initialization tasks that must complete before any network or multi-user services start. Scripts associated with this target run during the boot process, after the basic system is initialized but before network services are brought up, ensuring the script executes once at system initialization.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
multi-user.target
Why it's wrong here
multi-user.target is the standard multi-user runlevel reached after networking and most services are up, so scripts ordered after it run far too late. It tempts because it is the common default target for services, but it does not satisfy the before-network-services ordering requirement.
- ✗
basic.target
Why it's wrong here
basic.target is reached after early boot services, sockets and mounts are active, which is later than the pre-network point required. It appeals as a general early-boot milestone, but units ordered after it cannot run before network services, failing the ordering constraint.
- ✓
sysinit.target
Why this is correct
sysinit.target is reached during early boot, before basic network services are started by network.target and multi-user.target. Associating the unit here guarantees the script executes once at initialisation, satisfying the requirement to run before any network services start.
- ✗
network.target
Why it's wrong here
network.target is reached once network interfaces are configured, so units ordered after it start too late for a script that must precede network services. It tempts because the requirement mentions networking, but network.target marks completion of network setup, not the pre-network boot stage.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Process Management and System Monitoring
Key term
User
A user is any person, system, or device that interacts with an IT service, resource, or identity system, typically authenticated through credentials and authorized to perform specific actions.
Key term
Process
In IT service management, a process is a structured set of activities designed to accomplish a specific objective, such as managing incidents or changes, by transforming inputs into defined outputs.
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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.