- A
free
Displays total, used, and free memory.
- B
uptime
Why wrong: Shows load average, not memory usage.
- C
top
Shows memory usage per process and overall.
- D
ps aux
Why wrong: Shows per-process memory but not overall usage.
- E
vmstat
Reports memory statistics including swap.
Question 322 of 537
EX200 Operate running systems Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of operate running systems. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 three commands can be used to display overall memory usage information?
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
✓
free
The 'free' command displays the total, used, and available physical and swap memory on the system. It reads /proc/meminfo and presents a concise summary of memory usage, making it a primary tool for checking overall memory consumption.
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.
- ✓
free
Why this is correct
Displays total, used, and free memory.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
uptime
Why it's wrong here
Shows load average, not memory usage.
- ✓
top
Why this is correct
Shows memory usage per process and overall.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
ps aux
Why it's wrong here
Shows per-process memory but not overall usage.
- ✓
vmstat
Why this is correct
Reports memory statistics including swap.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the distinction between commands that show per-process memory (like ps aux) versus those that show system-wide memory totals (like free, top, vmstat), leading candidates to incorrectly select ps aux as a memory usage command.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows load average, not memory usage.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'free' command reads from /proc/meminfo, which contains kernel memory statistics such as MemTotal, MemFree, Buffers, Cached, and SwapTotal. The 'top' command provides a dynamic real-time view of system processes and includes a memory summary line showing total, free, used, and buffered memory. 'vmstat' reports virtual memory statistics including swap in/out, free memory, and buffer/cache usage, and can be used to monitor memory pressure over time.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Operate running systems — This question tests Operate running systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: free — The 'free' command displays the total, used, and available physical and swap memory on the system. It reads /proc/meminfo and presents a concise summary of memory usage, making it a primary tool for checking overall memory consumption.
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
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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