- A
Add 'jdoe ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL' to /etc/sudoers via visudo
This grants passwordless sudo access.
- B
Add jdoe to the wheel group and configure /etc/sudoers with '%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL'
Why wrong: This requires a password for sudo, not NOPASSWD.
- C
Set the UID of jdoe to 0
Why wrong: Setting UID to 0 is insecure and not a standard practice.
- D
Add jdoe to the root group
Why wrong: Being in the root group does not grant sudo privileges.
Question 97 of 537
Configuring Passwordless sudo for a Specific User
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. 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.
A system administrator needs to ensure that a user named 'jdoe' can execute commands as root without being prompted for a password. Which configuration change should be made?
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
✓
Add 'jdoe ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL' to /etc/sudoers via visudo
Option A is correct because the sudoers directive 'jdoe ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL' grants user jdoe the ability to run any command as any user (including root) on any host without a password prompt. This configuration must be added using visudo to ensure syntax validation and prevent lockout. The NOPASSWD tag overrides the default password requirement for sudo.
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 'jdoe ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL' to /etc/sudoers via visudo
Why this is correct
This grants passwordless sudo access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add jdoe to the wheel group and configure /etc/sudoers with '%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL'
Why it's wrong here
This requires a password for sudo, not NOPASSWD.
- ✗
Set the UID of jdoe to 0
Why it's wrong here
Setting UID to 0 is insecure and not a standard practice.
- ✗
Add jdoe to the root group
Why it's wrong here
Being in the root group does not grant sudo privileges.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the wheel group's default sudo behavior (password required) with passwordless access, or they incorrectly assume that group membership (root group) or UID changes are equivalent to sudo configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The sudoers file uses a tag-based syntax where 'NOPASSWD' is a flag that overrides the default 'authenticate' behavior. Under the hood, sudo checks the user's timestamp file in /var/run/sudo/ts/; with NOPASSWD, no timestamp update is required, and the command executes immediately. In real-world scenarios, this is commonly used for automated scripts or service accounts where interactive password entry is impractical, but it must be carefully scoped to specific commands to avoid granting unrestricted root access.
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 EX200 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Manage users and groups — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Manage users and groups practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Manage users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add 'jdoe ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL' to /etc/sudoers via visudo — Option A is correct because the sudoers directive 'jdoe ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL' grants user jdoe the ability to run any command as any user (including root) on any host without a password prompt. This configuration must be added using visudo to ensure syntax validation and prevent lockout. The NOPASSWD tag overrides the default password requirement for sudo.
What should I do if I get this EX200 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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