This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of system management. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
$ systemctl status sshd.service
● sshd.service - OpenSSH server daemon
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/sshd.service; disabled; vendor preset: disabled)
Active: active (running) since Mon 2023-06-12 10:23:45 UTC; 2h 15min ago
Main PID: 1234 (sshd)
CGroup: /system.slice/sshd.service
└─1234 /usr/sbin/sshd -D
Based on the exhibit, which statement is true about the sshd service?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The service is not enabled to start at boot.
The exhibit shows the output of `systemctl status sshd.service`. The line `Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/sshd.service; disabled; vendor preset: enabled)` indicates the service is currently loaded but its enablement state is `disabled`, meaning it is not configured to start automatically at boot. The `Active: inactive (dead)` line confirms the service is not running now, but the question asks about boot-time behavior, which is governed by the `disabled` state. Therefore, option D is correct.
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.
✗
The service is masked.
Why it's wrong here
'disabled' means it does not start at boot; 'masked' is a different state.
✗
The service is inactive.
Why it's wrong here
'Active: active (running)' shows it is running.
✗
The service has exited.
Why it's wrong here
The service is still running with PID 1234.
✓
The service is not enabled to start at boot.
Why this is correct
'disabled' indicates the service is not enabled for automatic start.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates see `inactive (dead)` and incorrectly assume the service is not enabled to start at boot, but the actual evidence for boot behavior is the `disabled` keyword in the Loaded line, not the Active line.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
'Active: active (running)' shows it is running.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In systemd, the `disabled` state means no symlink exists in `/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/` for the service, so it will not be started automatically at boot. The `vendor preset: enabled` indicates the package vendor's default is to enable the service, but local admin action (e.g., `systemctl disable sshd`) has overridden it. A real-world scenario is a security-hardened server where SSH is started manually only when needed, reducing the attack surface.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this XK0-005 question in full detail.
System Management — This question tests System Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The service is not enabled to start at boot. — The exhibit shows the output of `systemctl status sshd.service`. The line `Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/sshd.service; disabled; vendor preset: enabled)` indicates the service is currently loaded but its enablement state is `disabled`, meaning it is not configured to start automatically at boot. The `Active: inactive (dead)` line confirms the service is not running now, but the question asks about boot-time behavior, which is governed by the `disabled` state. Therefore, option D is correct.
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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