- A
useradd -r -M -s /bin/false appuser
Why wrong: /bin/false is not recommended; /sbin/nologin is standard.
- B
useradd -r -s /sbin/nologin -M appuser
Correctly disables login and skips home directory creation.
- C
useradd -r -s /sbin/nologin appuser
Why wrong: This creates a home directory by default without -M.
- D
useradd -s /bin/false -M appuser
Why wrong: Missing -r, and /bin/false is not the typical shell for service accounts.
Question 15 of 537
Use useradd -r -s /sbin/nologin -M to Create an Application Service Account
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. 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 needs to create a user account that will be used by an application service. The account should not have a valid shell or home directory. Which command correctly creates such an account?
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 choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
useradd -r -s /sbin/nologin -M appuser
Option B is correct because it uses the `-r` flag to create a system account (no aging information), `-s /sbin/nologin` to set the shell to a program that politely refuses login, and `-M` to explicitly skip creating a home directory. This combination ensures the account has no valid shell and no home directory, meeting the requirement for an application service account.
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.
- ✗
useradd -r -M -s /bin/false appuser
Why it's wrong here
/bin/false is not recommended; /sbin/nologin is standard.
- ✓
useradd -r -s /sbin/nologin -M appuser
Why this is correct
Correctly disables login and skips home directory creation.
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.
- ✗
useradd -r -s /sbin/nologin appuser
Why it's wrong here
This creates a home directory by default without -M.
- ✗
useradd -s /bin/false -M appuser
Why it's wrong here
Missing -r, and /bin/false is not the typical shell for service accounts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often forget the `-M` flag when the requirement explicitly states no home directory. Additionally, they may incorrectly use `/bin/false` instead of `/sbin/nologin` for a service account on Red Hat systems.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `-r` flag creates a system account with a UID below the `SYS_UID_MIN` value (typically 1000) and disables password aging. The `-M` flag overrides the `CREATE_HOME` setting in `/etc/login.defs`, which defaults to `yes`; without it, `useradd` would create `/home/appuser`. The shell `/sbin/nologin` is a special program that prints a configurable message and exits, preventing any interactive or non-interactive login, and is the standard for service accounts in RHEL.
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.
- →
Manage users and groups — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Manage users and groups practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Manage users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: useradd -r -s /sbin/nologin -M appuser — Option B is correct because it uses the `-r` flag to create a system account (no aging information), `-s /sbin/nologin` to set the shell to a program that politely refuses login, and `-M` to explicitly skip creating a home directory. This combination ensures the account has no valid shell and no home directory, meeting the requirement for an application service account.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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