- A
chage -d 0 username
Sets last password change to 0, forcing change on next login.
- B
passwd -f username
Why wrong: Invalid flag.
- C
usermod -L username
Why wrong: Locks the account.
- D
passwd -l username
Why wrong: Locks the account, does not force password change.
Question 384 of 537
How to Expire a Password Immediately with chage -d 0
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 checks if a user's password has expired and forces a password change at next login?
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.
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
✓
chage -d 0 username
The `chage -d 0 username` command sets the last password change date to the epoch (January 1, 1970), which forces the password to be considered expired immediately. On the next login, the system will prompt the user to change their password before granting access, as defined by the PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) password aging policy.
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.
- ✓
chage -d 0 username
Why this is correct
Sets last password change to 0, forcing change on next login.
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.
- ✗
passwd -f username
Why it's wrong here
Invalid flag.
- ✗
usermod -L username
Why it's wrong here
Locks the account.
- ✗
passwd -l username
Why it's wrong here
Locks the account, does not force password change.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trick is to distinguish between password expiration (chage -d 0) and account locking (passwd -l, usermod -L). Many candidates incorrectly choose an account lock command because they think it forces a password change at next login, but locking prevents login entirely until unlocked.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `chage -d 0` command modifies the `sp_lstchg` field in `/etc/shadow` to 0, which the system interprets as a password that must be changed immediately. This is distinct from setting the field to a future date, which would only expire the password after that date. In real-world scenarios, this is commonly used during user onboarding or after a password policy change to enforce immediate password reset.
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 security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Manage security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All EX200 questions
537 questions across all exam domains
- →
Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
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EX200 practice test guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Manage security — This question tests Manage security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: chage -d 0 username — The `chage -d 0 username` command sets the last password change date to the epoch (January 1, 1970), which forces the password to be considered expired immediately. On the next login, the system will prompt the user to change their password before granting access, as defined by the PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) password aging policy.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on EX200
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which command sets the password maximum age for user 'bob' to 30 days?
easy- ✓ A.chage -M 30 bob
- ✓ B.passwd -x 30 bob
- C.usermod -e 30 bob
- D.chage -W 30 bob
Why A: Both `chage -M 30 bob` and `passwd -x 30 bob` are valid commands to set the maximum password age for user 'bob' to 30 days. `chage -M` is the commonly used and RHCSA-recommended tool for password aging, but `passwd -x` also works on Red Hat systems. Option C (`usermod -e`) sets account expiration, not password maximum age. Option D (`chage -W`) sets the warning period before expiry.
Keep practising
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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