easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
XK0-006 Practice Question: Based on the exhibit, what is the most likely…
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
$ systemctl status sshd
● sshd.service - OpenSSH server daemon
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/sshd.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Mon 2023-06-12 09:15:22 UTC; 5min ago
Docs: man:sshd(8)
man:sshd_config(5)
Process: 1234 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/sshd -D $OPTIONS (code=exited, status=255)
Main PID: 1234 (code=exited, status=255)
Status: "Failed to start sshd"
Jun 12 09:15:22 server sshd[1234]: fatal: Missing privilege separation directory: /var/empty/sshdBased on the exhibit, what is the most likely cause of the sshd service failure?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the specific error message 'Privilege separation directory /var/empty/sshd does not exist' to trap candidates who assume the failure is due to a configuration syntax error or port conflict, rather than recognizing the missing chroot directory as a distinct startup prerequisite.
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
✓
The privilege separation directory /var/empty/sshd does not exist.
The error message 'Privilege separation directory /var/empty/sshd does not exist' directly indicates that the required chroot directory for the unprivileged sshd process is missing. Without this directory, sshd cannot drop privileges after authentication, causing it to fail on startup. This is a common issue after a partial installation or cleanup of OpenSSH.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The SSH configuration file has a syntax error.
Why it's wrong here
No syntax error is indicated; the error is about a missing directory.
- ✓
The privilege separation directory /var/empty/sshd does not exist.
Why this is correct
The error message directly states this directory is missing.
- ✗
The sshd PID file cannot be written.
Why it's wrong here
No PID file error is shown; the failure is due to missing directory.
- ✗
The SSH port is already in use by another service.
Why it's wrong here
No port conflict is mentioned in the logs.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Process Management and System Monitoring
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.
Key term
Service
A service is a software component or system that performs a specific function and is available to be used by other programs or users over a network.
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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.