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.
An administrator needs to configure a service to start automatically at boot and also start it immediately without rebooting. Which single command accomplishes both tasks?
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 start httpd.service
Why wrong: Starts the service but does not enable it for boot.
systemctl enable httpd.service
Why wrong: Enables the service for boot but does not start it immediately.
systemctl enable --now httpd.service
Enables and starts the service in one step.
systemctl reenable httpd.service
Why wrong: There is no `reenable` command; `enable` is used.
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 --now httpd.service
Option C is correct because `systemctl enable --now httpd.service` combines the `enable` action (creating symlinks for automatic start at boot) with the `start` action (immediately launching the service) in a single command. This is the precise method in systemd to achieve both goals without rebooting.
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 start httpd.service
Why it's wrong here
Starts the service but does not enable it for boot.
systemctl enable httpd.service
Why it's wrong here
Enables the service for boot but does not start it immediately.
systemctl enable --now httpd.service
Why this is correct
Enables and starts the service in one step.
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 reenable httpd.service
Why it's wrong here
There is no `reenable` command; `enable` is used.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `enable` with `start`, thinking `enable` alone also starts the service, or they choose `start` alone, forgetting that boot persistence requires a separate `enable` step.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
There is no `reenable` command; `enable` is used.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `systemctl enable --now` executes two operations: it creates symlinks in `/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/` (or similar target directories) to enable the unit at boot, and then calls `systemctl start` to activate the unit immediately. This is equivalent to running `systemctl enable` followed by `systemctl start`, but in a single atomic command that avoids race conditions or forgetting one step. In real-world scenarios, this is commonly used during initial service deployment or after package updates to ensure a service is both running now and persistent across reboots.
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 --now httpd.service — Option C is correct because `systemctl enable --now httpd.service` combines the `enable` action (creating symlinks for automatic start at boot) with the `start` action (immediately launching the service) in a single command. This is the precise method in systemd to achieve both goals without rebooting.
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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