The answer is to set crashkernel=auto in the boot loader, configure /etc/kdump.conf with a valid dump target, and ensure the kdump service is enabled and running. The crashkernel=auto parameter reserves a specific amount of memory for the kdump kernel, allowing it to boot and capture a vmcore file when the primary kernel panics. Without this reservation, the system cannot load the crash kernel, and no dump is generated. On the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 exam, this question tests your understanding of the kdump workflow: memory reservation, dump target configuration, and service activation. A common trap is assuming crashkernel=auto is optional or that the dump is automatically saved to /var/crash without editing /etc/kdump.conf. Remember the three pillars of kdump: reserve the memory, define the target, start the service. A useful memory tip is "Reserve, Target, Start" — if any one is missing, your crash dump analysis will fail.
XK0-005 Troubleshooting Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting. 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.
A server crashed with a kernel panic. After reboot, the administrator wants to analyze the crash dump. Which THREE actions should be taken to ensure a valid core dump is captured and accessible? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a dump target in /etc/kdump.conf.
Option A is correct because /etc/kdump.conf specifies where the crash dump should be saved (e.g., to a local disk, NFS, or SSH target). Without a configured dump target, the kdump mechanism does not know where to write the vmcore file, making the dump inaccessible after a kernel panic.
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.
✓
Configure a dump target in /etc/kdump.conf.
Why this is correct
The dump target (e.g., a partition or NFS mount) must be defined to write the core dump.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable and start the kdump service.
Why this is correct
The kdump service orchestrates the dump capture on crash.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Set crashkernel=auto in the boot loader.
Why this is correct
Reserves memory for the crash kernel.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Install kernel-debuginfo packages.
Why it's wrong here
Debug symbols are needed for analysis but not for capturing the dump.
✗
Ensure /var/crash has a vmcore file.
Why it's wrong here
The vmcore is the result, not a prerequisite; it will appear after a crash.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse post-crash verification (checking for a vmcore file) with pre-crash configuration steps, or they mistakenly think debuginfo packages are required for capturing the dump rather than for later analysis.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The kdump mechanism uses kexec to boot a secondary kernel (the crash kernel) upon a panic, which then captures the memory of the crashed kernel. The crashkernel=auto parameter reserves a specific amount of memory for this crash kernel, and without it, the system may not have enough reserved memory to boot the crash kernel, causing the dump to fail silently.
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 practitioner preparing for the XK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this XK0-005 question in full detail.
Troubleshooting — This question tests Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a dump target in /etc/kdump.conf. — Option A is correct because /etc/kdump.conf specifies where the crash dump should be saved (e.g., to a local disk, NFS, or SSH target). Without a configured dump target, the kdump mechanism does not know where to write the vmcore file, making the dump inaccessible after a kernel panic.
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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