This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of deploy, configure, and maintain 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 that a web server running Apache httpd starts automatically after a system reboot. Which command should the administrator use to enable the httpd service?
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.
systemctl daemon-reload
Why wrong: Reloads systemd configuration, not related to enabling services.
systemctl start httpd
Why wrong: Starts the service now, but does not enable it for boot.
systemctl reenable httpd
Why wrong: Not a valid systemctl subcommand.
systemctl enable httpd
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 enable httpd
Option D is correct because `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.
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
Why it's wrong here
Reloads systemd configuration, not related to enabling services.
systemctl start httpd
Why it's wrong here
Starts the service now, but does not enable it for boot.
systemctl reenable httpd
Why it's wrong here
Not a valid systemctl subcommand.
systemctl enable httpd
Why this is correct
Enables the service to start at boot.
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.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates 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`.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Not a valid systemctl subcommand.
Detailed technical explanation
When `systemctl enable` is executed, systemd creates a symlink from the unit file (e.g., `/usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd.service`) into the appropriate `.wants/` directory under `/etc/systemd/system/`, such as `multi-user.target.wants/`. This ensures the service is started when the target is reached during boot. A subtle behavior is that `systemctl enable` does not start the service immediately; a separate `systemctl start` is needed for that. In real-world scenarios, administrators often combine both commands as `systemctl enable --now httpd` to enable and start in one step.
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
Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — This question tests Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: systemctl enable httpd — Option D is correct because `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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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