XK0-005 Scripting, Containers and Automation Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of scripting, containers and automation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You are a Linux system administrator for a small company. You have written a BASH script that checks disk usage and sends an email alert if any partition exceeds 90% usage. The script works when run manually but does not produce alerts when run via cron. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The cron job's PATH variable does not include the directory where the mail command is located
When a script runs manually, it inherits the user's interactive shell environment, including the PATH variable that typically includes directories like /usr/bin and /usr/local/bin where the mail command resides. However, cron jobs execute in a minimal environment with a very restricted PATH (often just /usr/bin:/bin). If the mail command is located in a directory not in cron's default PATH, such as /usr/sbin or /opt/bin, the script will fail silently when attempting to send the email, even though the disk usage check itself succeeds. This is the most common cause of scripts working manually but failing under cron.
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 cron job's PATH variable does not include the directory where the mail command is located
Why this is correct
The mail command is often in /usr/sbin, which may not be in cron's default PATH; the script fails to execute mail silently.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The script has incorrect file permissions
Why it's wrong here
If permissions were incorrect, the script would not run at all when called manually.
✗
The cron scheduler is disabled
Why it's wrong here
If cron were disabled, no jobs would run; manual execution proves the script works.
✗
The script uses relative paths to check partitions
Why it's wrong here
Relative paths would cause the script to fail entirely, not just email delivery.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the concept that cron jobs have a restricted environment, particularly PATH, and candidates mistakenly focus on script permissions or relative paths instead of the missing command path in cron's minimal shell.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cron jobs execute with a minimal environment defined in /etc/crontab or the crontab file itself, typically setting PATH=/usr/bin:/bin. The mail command (often /usr/sbin/sendmail or /bin/mail) may reside in /usr/sbin, which is not in cron's default PATH. To resolve this, administrators should either set the PATH variable explicitly at the top of the crontab file (e.g., PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin) or use absolute paths to commands within the script (e.g., /usr/sbin/sendmail).
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 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.
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: The cron job's PATH variable does not include the directory where the mail command is located — When a script runs manually, it inherits the user's interactive shell environment, including the PATH variable that typically includes directories like /usr/bin and /usr/local/bin where the mail command resides. However, cron jobs execute in a minimal environment with a very restricted PATH (often just /usr/bin:/bin). If the mail command is located in a directory not in cron's default PATH, such as /usr/sbin or /opt/bin, the script will fail silently when attempting to send the email, even though the disk usage check itself succeeds. This is the most common cause of scripts working manually but failing under cron.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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