XK0-005 Scripting, Containers and Automation Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of scripting, containers and automation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An administrator needs to run a backup script every day at 2:00 AM. The script is located at /usr/local/bin/backup.sh and is executable. The administrator considers several methods to schedule this task. Which method should the administrator use to ensure the script runs at exactly 2:00 AM every day without additional configuration overhead?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add the following line to the crontab for root: `0 2 * * * /usr/local/bin/backup.sh`
The correct method is to add a cron job via crontab because cron is the standard Unix/Linux utility for scheduling tasks at specific times. The syntax `0 2 * * *` precisely defines execution at 2:00 AM daily (minute 0, hour 2, every day, every month, every day of week), and the script path is fully qualified. This approach requires no additional configuration overhead beyond a single crontab entry.
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.
✓
Add the following line to the crontab for root: `0 2 * * * /usr/local/bin/backup.sh`
Why this is correct
This crontab entry schedules the script to run at exactly 2:00 AM daily.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Append the script path to /etc/rc.local file.
Why it's wrong here
rc.local runs at boot, not daily.
✗
Place the script in /etc/cron.daily/ directory.
Why it's wrong here
cron.daily runs at a system-defined time, not exactly 2:00 AM.
✗
Create a systemd timer unit that triggers the script daily at 2:00 AM.
Why it's wrong here
This is possible but adds unnecessary complexity compared to cron.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse cron.daily (which runs daily but at a non-configurable time) with a user-crontab entry, or assume systemd timers are simpler than they actually are, overlooking the extra unit files required.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cron uses a daemon (crond) that reads crontab files and checks every minute for matching schedules. The five-field syntax (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week) allows precise time specification, with `*` meaning 'any'. Unlike anacron (used for cron.daily), cron does not compensate for missed runs due to system downtime, making it ideal for exact-time scheduling when the system is expected to be running.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this XK0-005 question in full detail.
Scripting, Containers and Automation — This question tests Scripting, Containers and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add the following line to the crontab for root: `0 2 * * * /usr/local/bin/backup.sh` — The correct method is to add a cron job via crontab because cron is the standard Unix/Linux utility for scheduling tasks at specific times. The syntax `0 2 * * *` precisely defines execution at 2:00 AM daily (minute 0, hour 2, every day, every month, every day of week), and the script path is fully qualified. This approach requires no additional configuration overhead beyond a single crontab entry.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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