This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of service configuration. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Which command displays the current status of all active services?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
systemctl list-units --type=service --state=active
This command filters for active services only.
systemctl status --all
Why wrong: status --all shows all units (services, sockets, mounts, etc.), not just services.
systemctl show --type=service
Why wrong: show displays properties of a unit, not its active status.
systemctl list-unit-files --type=service
Why wrong: list-unit-files shows all unit files, not their runtime state.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
systemctl list-units --type=service --state=active
Option A is correct because `systemctl list-units --type=service --state=active` filters systemd units to show only those of type 'service' that are currently in the 'active' state (i.e., running or exited but still considered active). This is the precise command to list all active services without showing inactive or failed units.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
systemctl list-units --type=service --state=active
Why this is correct
This command filters for active services only.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
systemctl status --all
Why it's wrong here
status --all shows all units (services, sockets, mounts, etc.), not just services.
systemctl show --type=service
Why it's wrong here
show displays properties of a unit, not its active status.
systemctl list-unit-files --type=service
Why it's wrong here
list-unit-files shows all unit files, not their runtime state.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `systemctl status --all` (which shows all units regardless of state) with listing only active services, or they mistakenly think `systemctl list-unit-files` shows current runtime status instead of disk-based enablement configuration.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
status --all shows all units (services, sockets, mounts, etc.), not just services.
Detailed technical explanation
Systemd uses unit states such as 'active', 'inactive', 'activating', 'deactivating', and 'failed'. The `--state=active` filter matches units in the 'active' substate, which includes 'running', 'exited', 'waiting', or 'plugged' depending on the unit type. In real-world scenarios, a service may be 'active (exited)' if it completed successfully (e.g., oneshot services), and this command correctly includes them, whereas `--state=running` would exclude them.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LFCS 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.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Service Configuration — This question tests Service Configuration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: systemctl list-units --type=service --state=active — Option A is correct because `systemctl list-units --type=service --state=active` filters systemd units to show only those of type 'service' that are currently in the 'active' state (i.e., running or exited but still considered active). This is the precise command to list all active services without showing inactive or failed units.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation 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 LFCS exam.
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