The answer is to change the user's shell to /sbin/nologin. This works because SSH requires a valid, interactive shell listed in /etc/shells to establish a login session, whereas FTP typically authenticates users without checking the shell, allowing file transfers to proceed normally. On the Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how PAM and shell restrictions control service access, often appearing as a trick to distinguish between locking an account with `usermod -L` versus simply blocking interactive logins. A common trap is assuming you need to modify SSH configuration files, but the shell method is cleaner and preserves other non-interactive services. Remember the memory tip: "Shell blocks the shell, not the service" — changing the shell only kills interactive sessions like SSH, leaving FTP and other daemon-based logins untouched.
EX200 Manage users and groups Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. 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.
A system administrator needs to ensure that the user 'jdoe' cannot log in via SSH but can still use other services like FTP. Which approach should the administrator take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change the user's shell to /sbin/nologin
Option D is correct because changing the user's shell to /sbin/nologin prevents interactive login via SSH (which requires a valid shell listed in /etc/shells) while still allowing non-interactive services like FTP, which typically do not check the user's shell. This approach specifically blocks SSH access without locking the account or affecting other authentication methods.
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.
✗
Lock the user account with 'usermod -L jdoe'
Why it's wrong here
Locking the account prevents all authentication.
✗
Delete the user's password with 'passwd -d jdoe'
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the password prevents any authentication, including FTP.
✗
Remove the user's home directory
Why it's wrong here
Removing the home directory does not prevent login; the user can still log in.
✓
Change the user's shell to /sbin/nologin
Why this is correct
/sbin/nologin prevents interactive login but allows non-login services like FTP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse account locking (usermod -L) with shell restriction, assuming that locking the account only affects SSH, when in fact it blocks all password-based authentication, including FTP and other services.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The /sbin/nologin shell is a program that simply prints a message and exits, and it is listed in /etc/shells as a valid shell for non-login purposes. SSH uses the login shell defined in /etc/passwd to start an interactive session; if the shell is /sbin/nologin, SSH will refuse the connection. FTP daemons like vsftpd typically authenticate via PAM but do not execute the user's shell, so the shell restriction does not apply, allowing FTP access to continue.
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.
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: Change the user's shell to /sbin/nologin — Option D is correct because changing the user's shell to /sbin/nologin prevents interactive login via SSH (which requires a valid shell listed in /etc/shells) while still allowing non-interactive services like FTP, which typically do not check the user's shell. This approach specifically blocks SSH access without locking the account or affecting other authentication methods.
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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Question Discussion
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