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XK0-006 Practice Question: Which TWO commands can be used to display the…
Which TWO commands can be used to display the amount of free and used memory on a Linux system?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between disk space commands (`df`, `du`) and memory commands (`free`, `/proc/meminfo`), trapping candidates who confuse filesystem usage with RAM usage.
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
✓
free -h
The `free -h` command displays the total, used, and free physical memory (RAM) and swap space in a human-readable format. The `cat /proc/meminfo` command reads the kernel's memory statistics directly from the virtual filesystem, providing detailed information about memory usage, including free, available, buffered, and cached memory. Both commands are standard tools for inspecting memory utilization on a Linux system.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
df -h
Why it's wrong here
df shows disk partition usage, not memory.
- ✗
du -sh
Why it's wrong here
du shows disk usage of files/directories.
- ✓
free -h
Why this is correct
free displays memory usage in human-readable format.
- ✓
cat /proc/meminfo
Why this is correct
/proc/meminfo contains detailed memory information.
- ✗
iostat
Why it's wrong here
iostat reports CPU and I/O statistics.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux Fundamentals and History
Key term
Kernel
The kernel is the core program of an operating system that manages hardware resources and provides essential services for all other software to run.
Key term
Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system that manages computer hardware and software, widely used in servers, desktops, and embedded systems.
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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.