EX200 Deploy, configure, and maintain systems Practice Question
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 restore the default SELinux security context on all files under /var/www/html after a misconfiguration. Which command should be used?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
restorecon -R /var/www/html
The `restorecon -R /var/www/html` command restores the default SELinux security contexts on all files under /var/www/html by reading the file contexts defined in the SELinux policy (typically from /etc/selinux/targeted/contexts/files/file_contexts). The `-R` flag ensures recursive operation, making it the correct tool to fix misconfigured contexts without manually specifying a type.
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.
✗
setfiles -R /var/www/html
Why it's wrong here
setfiles requires a file context specification file, not typically used for targeted restore.
✓
restorecon -R /var/www/html
Why this is correct
Recursively restores default SELinux contexts.
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.
✗
fixfiles -R /var/www/html
Why it's wrong here
fixfiles is used for broader filesystem relabeling, not a targeted restore.
✗
chcon -R -t httpd_sys_content_t /var/www/html
Why it's wrong here
chcon changes context but does not restore default; it applies a specified type.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse `restorecon` with `chcon` or `setfiles`, thinking that manually setting the type with `chcon` is equivalent to restoring the default context, but `chcon` does not consult the policy and can set an incorrect type if the path's default context differs from the specified type.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `restorecon` command reads the file context definitions from the SELinux policy database, which includes entries for paths like `/var/www/html(/.*)?` mapped to `httpd_sys_content_t`. Under the hood, it uses the `selinux_file_context_verify` and `selinux_file_context` functions to compare and apply the correct context, and it respects the `nochange` and `verbose` flags for dry-run or detailed output. In a real-world scenario, after a misconfiguration like a `chcon` that set the wrong type (e.g., `user_home_t`), `restorecon -R` is the safest way to revert to the policy-defined defaults without needing to remember the exact type.
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.
Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — This question tests Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: restorecon -R /var/www/html — The `restorecon -R /var/www/html` command restores the default SELinux security contexts on all files under /var/www/html by reading the file contexts defined in the SELinux policy (typically from /etc/selinux/targeted/contexts/files/file_contexts). The `-R` flag ensures recursive operation, making it the correct tool to fix misconfigured contexts without manually specifying a type.
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.
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Question Discussion
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