This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of operate running systems. 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 a service called 'myapp' starts automatically at boot and also start it immediately without affecting the current boot configuration. Which TWO commands should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
systemctl daemon-reload myapp
Why wrong: Incorrect: This command reloads unit files, not start services.
systemctl start myapp
Correct: Starts the service immediately.
systemctl restart myapp
Why wrong: Incorrect: This restarts a running service but does not set it to start at boot.
systemctl activate myapp
Why wrong: Incorrect: No such command in systemd.
systemctl enable myapp
Correct: Enables the service to start at boot.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
systemctl start myapp
The 'systemctl enable myapp' command creates the necessary symlinks so that the service starts automatically at boot, while 'systemctl start myapp' launches the service immediately in the current session without altering the boot configuration. Together, they satisfy both requirements without affecting the existing boot setup.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
systemctl daemon-reload myapp
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This command reloads unit files, not start services.
systemctl start myapp
Why this is correct
Correct: Starts the service immediately.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
systemctl restart myapp
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This restarts a running service but does not set it to start at boot.
systemctl activate myapp
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: No such command in systemd.
systemctl enable myapp
Why this is correct
Correct: Enables the service to start at boot.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'enable' with 'start' or think 'restart' or 'daemon-reload' can achieve both goals, but only the combination of 'enable' (for boot persistence) and 'start' (for immediate activation) meets the exact requirements.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect: This command reloads unit files, not start services.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, 'systemctl enable' creates symbolic links in /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/ (or similar target directories) pointing to the unit file in /usr/lib/systemd/system/, ensuring the service is started by systemd at boot. 'systemctl start' directly sends a start request to the systemd PID 1 via D-Bus, which activates the service immediately. A real-world scenario is deploying a web server like httpd: you enable it for persistence across reboots and start it now to serve traffic without waiting for a reboot.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
Operate running systems — This question tests Operate running systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: systemctl start myapp — The 'systemctl enable myapp' command creates the necessary symlinks so that the service starts automatically at boot, while 'systemctl start myapp' launches the service immediately in the current session without altering the boot configuration. Together, they satisfy both requirements without affecting the existing boot setup.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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