Quick Answer
The answer is `crontab -l`, which is the correct command to list the current user's cron jobs. This command displays the contents of the user's crontab file, allowing the administrator to verify that the entry `30 2 * * 0 /usr/local/bin/backup.sh` is correctly configured to run every Sunday at 2:30 AM. On the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 exam, this tests your understanding of cron job management and the distinction between listing jobs, editing them with `crontab -e`, and checking the cron service status. A common trap is confusing `crontab -l` with invalid commands like `cron -l` or assuming you can read the crontab file directly via `cat /var/spool/cron/crontabs/`, which varies by user and requires root privileges. Remember the memory tip: "List with `-l`" — the lowercase L stands for "list," just like `ls` lists files.
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.
An administrator needs to schedule a backup script located at '/usr/local/bin/backup.sh' to run every Sunday at 2:30 AM. The server uses cron for task scheduling. The administrator currently has the following crontab entry: '30 2 * * 0 /usr/local/bin/backup.sh'. However, the administrator wants to verify that the cron job is configured correctly and will run as expected. Which of the following commands should the administrator use to list the current user's cron jobs and verify the entry?
cat /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root
Why wrong: This file is for the root user; the administrator may not have access to other users' files, and the path may differ on some distributions.
systemctl status cron
Why wrong: Shows the status of the cron service, not the scheduled jobs.
cron -l
Why wrong: The cron command does not have a -l option for listing jobs.
crontab -l
Lists the current user's crontab entries, allowing verification.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
crontab -l
The 'crontab -l' command lists the current user's crontab entries. Option A is correct. 'cron -l' is not a valid command. 'cat /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root' might work for root but not for a regular user, and the path varies. 'systemctl status cron' shows the cron service status, not the job list.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
cat /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root
Why it's wrong here
This file is for the root user; the administrator may not have access to other users' files, and the path may differ on some distributions.
systemctl status cron
Why it's wrong here
Shows the status of the cron service, not the scheduled jobs.
cron -l
Why it's wrong here
The cron command does not have a -l option for listing jobs.
crontab -l
Why this is correct
Lists the current user's crontab entries, allowing verification.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows the status of the cron service, not the scheduled jobs.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related XK0-005 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
System Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
System Management — This question tests System Management — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: crontab -l — The 'crontab -l' command lists the current user's crontab entries. Option A is correct. 'cron -l' is not a valid command. 'cat /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root' might work for root but not for a regular user, and the path varies. 'systemctl status cron' shows the cron service status, not the job list.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related XK0-005 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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