This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of essential tools. 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.
A system administrator notices that a server is responding slowly. The administrator runs `top` and sees a process named `backup_script` consuming 95% CPU. The process runs as root and is supposed to run nightly backups. However, the system load average is low. The administrator wants to investigate without killing the process. Which of the following is the best course of action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use `renice -n 19 -p <PID>` to lower the priority of the process.
Option A is correct because `renice -n 19 -p <PID>` lowers the CPU scheduling priority of the running `backup_script` process to the lowest possible value (19), which reduces its CPU consumption without killing it. This allows the administrator to investigate the cause of the high CPU usage while minimizing the impact on other processes and system responsiveness.
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.
✓
Use `renice -n 19 -p <PID>` to lower the priority of the process.
Why this is correct
This reduces CPU impact while allowing the process to continue.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use `nice -n 19 ./backup_script` to start the process with lower priority next time.
Why it's wrong here
This only affects new processes, not the currently running one.
✗
Use `chrt -i 0 <PID>` to set the scheduling policy to idle.
Why it's wrong here
Idle scheduling is for very low priority tasks but can cause unexpected behavior.
✗
Use `kill -STOP <PID>` to pause the process and then resume later.
Why it's wrong here
Pausing might interrupt the backup and cause incomplete data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the distinction between `nice` (for starting a new process) and `renice` (for adjusting an existing process), and candidates may confuse the two or think `nice` can be applied to a running process.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `renice` command adjusts the nice value of a running process, which influences the Completely Fair Scheduler (CFS) in Linux by affecting the process's time slice weight; a higher nice value (e.g., 19) means the process gets less CPU time relative to other processes. In real-world scenarios, a backup script consuming 95% CPU could indicate a runaway process or an inefficient backup algorithm, and using `renice` allows the administrator to throttle it while running diagnostic tools like `strace` or `lsof` to identify the root cause without abruptly interrupting the backup.
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.
Essential Tools — This question tests Essential Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use `renice -n 19 -p <PID>` to lower the priority of the process. — Option A is correct because `renice -n 19 -p <PID>` lowers the CPU scheduling priority of the running `backup_script` process to the lowest possible value (19), which reduces its CPU consumption without killing it. This allows the administrator to investigate the cause of the high CPU usage while minimizing the impact on other processes and system responsiveness.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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