- A
The target command must be executable by root
Why wrong: Sudo runs commands as root regardless of permissions.
- B
User must be in the wheel group
RHEL's default sudoers grants privileges to %wheel.
- C
User must have a password set
Why wrong: NOPASSWD directives allow passwordless sudo.
- D
User must be in the sudoers file
A valid entry must grant privileges to the user.
- E
The sudoers file must be edited with visudo
Visudo locks the file and validates syntax.
Question 67 of 537
What Conditions Must Be Met to Use sudo? Wheel Group, sudoers, visudo
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.
Which THREE conditions must be met for a user to effectively use the 'sudo' command to execute commands with root privileges?
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
✓
User must be in the wheel group
Option B is correct because, by default on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the 'wheel' group is granted full sudo access via the sudoers directive '%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL'. This means any user who is a member of the 'wheel' group can execute any command as root, provided they authenticate with their own password. The group membership is a standard and secure way to delegate sudo privileges without editing the sudoers file for each individual user.
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.
- ✗
The target command must be executable by root
Why it's wrong here
Sudo runs commands as root regardless of permissions.
- ✓
User must be in the wheel group
Why this is correct
RHEL's default sudoers grants privileges to %wheel.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
User must have a password set
Why it's wrong here
NOPASSWD directives allow passwordless sudo.
- ✓
User must be in the sudoers file
Why this is correct
A valid entry must grant privileges to the user.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
The sudoers file must be edited with visudo
Why this is correct
Visudo locks the file and validates syntax.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think the 'wheel' group is the only way to grant sudo access on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, but the correct answer requires recognizing that being in the sudoers file (via any method, including group membership) is the core requirement, and that visudo is the mandatory editing tool.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Sudo runs commands as root regardless of permissions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The sudoers file, typically located at /etc/sudoers, uses a specific syntax to define privileges, and it must always be edited with the visudo command to prevent syntax errors that could lock out administrative access. Under the hood, sudo uses setuid (SUID) to elevate privileges, and the authentication is handled via PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules), which can be configured to use different methods (e.g., password, biometrics). In a real-world scenario, a system administrator might grant a user sudo access to only specific commands by adding a line like 'username ALL=(ALL) /usr/bin/systemctl' in the sudoers file, demonstrating that group membership is not the only way to grant sudo privileges.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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.
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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: User must be in the wheel group — Option B is correct because, by default on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the 'wheel' group is granted full sudo access via the sudoers directive '%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL'. This means any user who is a member of the 'wheel' group can execute any command as root, provided they authenticate with their own password. The group membership is a standard and secure way to delegate sudo privileges without editing the sudoers file for each individual user.
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.
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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