The answer is to run `systemctl enable webapp.service` followed by `systemctl start webapp.service`. This is correct because `systemctl enable` creates the necessary symlinks in the systemd unit configuration directories, telling the system to automatically start the service at boot, while `systemctl start` launches it immediately. Without enabling the service, the systemd unit remains disabled after a reboot, so even though the `ExecStart` directive is properly configured to run the Podman container, it will never be triggered automatically. On the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the distinction between enabling a service for boot-time activation versus simply starting it for the current session—a common trap where candidates forget the enable step. Remember the mnemonic: "Enable for every boot, start for right now."
XK0-005 Scripting, Containers and Automation Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of scripting, containers and automation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Sarah is a Linux systems administrator for a company that runs a web application inside a Podman container. The container is launched using a systemd service file on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 server. The service file is located at /etc/systemd/system/webapp.service and includes an ExecStart directive that runs `podman run -d --name webapp -p 80:80 nginx`. The server was recently rebooted for kernel updates. After the reboot, the web application is not responding. Sarah logs in and runs `systemctl status webapp.service`, which shows the service is 'disabled' and 'inactive'. She wants to ensure that the container starts automatically after every future reboot. What should Sarah do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Run `systemctl enable webapp.service` and then start the service.
Option C is correct because `systemctl enable webapp.service` creates the necessary symlinks to start the service automatically at boot, and `systemctl start webapp.service` immediately starts the container. Since the service is currently disabled and inactive, enabling it ensures the systemd unit is triggered on future reboots, which will execute the `ExecStart` command to run the Podman container.
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 line `@reboot /usr/bin/podman start webapp` to root's crontab.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This is a workaround, not the standard method, and relies on cron.
✗
Modify the container image to include a restart policy of 'always'.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Container restart policy does not affect systemd service startup.
✓
Run `systemctl enable webapp.service` and then start the service.
Why this is correct
Correct: Enabling the systemd service ensures it starts on boot.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Run `podman generate systemd --new --name webapp` to create a new systemd unit.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: The existing unit is fine; generating a new one is unnecessary if the current unit is functional.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse enabling a systemd service with setting a container's restart policy, thinking that `--restart=always` in the Podman command will survive a reboot, when in fact systemd must be enabled to launch the service after boot.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Systemd service units are enabled via symlinks in `/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/`; `systemctl enable` creates this symlink, ensuring the service starts at boot. The `ExecStart` directive in the service file runs `podman run -d --name webapp -p 80:80 nginx`, which creates a new container each time; if the container already exists, Podman will fail, so the service should use `podman start` or include `--replace` to handle existing containers gracefully. In production, administrators often use `podman generate systemd` with `--new` to create a unit that manages the container's lifecycle, but the existing unit must still be enabled.
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.
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: Run `systemctl enable webapp.service` and then start the service. — Option C is correct because `systemctl enable webapp.service` creates the necessary symlinks to start the service automatically at boot, and `systemctl start webapp.service` immediately starts the container. Since the service is currently disabled and inactive, enabling it ensures the systemd unit is triggered on future reboots, which will execute the `ExecStart` command to run the Podman container.
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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