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.
An administrator wants to create a symbolic link named 'link_to_hosts' in /tmp that points to /etc/hosts. Which command is correct?
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.
ln -s /tmp/link_to_hosts /etc/hosts
Why wrong: Order is wrong; this would try to create a link named /etc/hosts pointing to /tmp/link_to_hosts.
ln -s /etc/hosts /tmp/link_to_hosts
Correct order: target /etc/hosts, link name /tmp/link_to_hosts.
ln -s /etc/hosts link_to_hosts
Why wrong: Creates the link in the current directory, not /tmp, unless run from /tmp.
ln -s /tmp/link_to_hosts /etc/hosts
Why wrong: Same as A, reversed order.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ln -s /etc/hosts /tmp/link_to_hosts
The `ln -s` command creates a symbolic link. The correct syntax is `ln -s TARGET LINK_NAME`. Option B correctly specifies the existing target file `/etc/hosts` first, followed by the new link path `/tmp/link_to_hosts`, which creates the symbolic link in `/tmp` pointing to `/etc/hosts`.
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.
ln -s /tmp/link_to_hosts /etc/hosts
Why it's wrong here
Order is wrong; this would try to create a link named /etc/hosts pointing to /tmp/link_to_hosts.
ln -s /etc/hosts /tmp/link_to_hosts
Why this is correct
Correct order: target /etc/hosts, link name /tmp/link_to_hosts.
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.
ln -s /etc/hosts link_to_hosts
Why it's wrong here
Creates the link in the current directory, not /tmp, unless run from /tmp.
ln -s /tmp/link_to_hosts /etc/hosts
Why it's wrong here
Same as A, reversed order.
Common exam traps
Red Hat often tests the argument order of `ln -s`, where candidates mistakenly place the link name before the target, confusing it with the `cp` or `mv` command syntax where the destination comes last.
Detailed technical explanation
The `ln -s` command uses the `symlink()` system call, which creates a symbolic link as a special file containing the path to the target. Unlike hard links, symbolic links can cross filesystem boundaries and point to non-existent targets (dangling links). In real-world scenarios, administrators often use symbolic links for configuration file management, such as pointing `/etc/resolv.conf` to a dynamically managed file, requiring careful attention to argument order to avoid breaking system services.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Essential Tools — This question tests Essential Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ln -s /etc/hosts /tmp/link_to_hosts — The `ln -s` command creates a symbolic link. The correct syntax is `ln -s TARGET LINK_NAME`. Option B correctly specifies the existing target file `/etc/hosts` first, followed by the new link path `/tmp/link_to_hosts`, which creates the symbolic link in `/tmp` pointing to `/etc/hosts`.
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 30, 2026
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