EX200 Deploy, configure, and maintain systems Practice Question
A system administrator needs to ensure that a web server running Apache httpd starts automatically after a system reboot. Which command should the administrator use to enable the httpd service?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse `systemctl start` (immediate runtime start) with `systemctl enable` (persistent boot-time activation), or they invent a non-existent command like `systemctl reenable` instead of using the correct `systemctl enable`.
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
✓
systemctl enable httpd
`systemctl enable httpd` creates the necessary symlinks in the systemd unit configuration directories (e.g., `/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/`) to ensure the httpd service starts automatically at boot. This is the standard method for enabling a service in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8/9 environment using systemd.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
systemctl daemon-reload
Why it's wrong here
daemon-reload only re-reads unit files after edits; it does not create the symlinks that start httpd at boot. Enabling requires systemctl enable httpd, which wires the unit into the boot target. daemon-reload is the right step after modifying a unit file, not for setting boot-time activation.
- ✗
systemctl start httpd
Why it's wrong here
systemctl start httpd launches the service only for the current boot session; it does not create the enablement symlink that starts it at boot. It is tempting because it confirms the service runs now, which is useful for immediate testing, but persistence after reboot requires systemctl enable httpd instead.
- ✗
systemctl reenable httpd
Why it's wrong here
systemctl reenable re-runs the enablement symlink creation for an already-enabled unit; it does not enable a disabled service. It is tempting because it sounds like a stronger form of enable, but the correct command for enabling httpd at boot is systemctl enable httpd.
- ✓
systemctl enable httpd
Why this is correct
systemctl enable httpd creates the systemd symlinks that pull the httpd unit into the boot target, so the service starts automatically at reboot. It satisfies the persistence requirement without starting the service immediately, unlike systemctl start.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 427 original EX200 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This EX200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Red Hat 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 EX200 exam.