- A
Restart=always, RestartSec=30, StartLimitIntervalSec=0, StartLimitBurst=0
This option correctly sets Restart=always, RestartSec=30, StartLimitIntervalSec=0, and StartLimitBurst=0. Setting both interval and burst to 0 disables rate limiting entirely, ensuring the service restarts indefinitely after each crash without being counted towards a failure limit.
- B
Restart=on-failure and RestartSec=30
Why wrong: This option uses Restart=on-failure, which only restarts on failure, not on all crashes. It also lacks settings to disable rate limiting, so it does not meet the requirement of indefinite restart without counting restarts.
- C
Restart=always, RestartSec=30, StartLimitIntervalSec=0
Why wrong: Option C is incorrect because setting StartLimitIntervalSec=0 alone does not fully disable start rate limiting; systemd will still consider StartLimitBurst if it is not explicitly set to 0. Therefore, to prevent restarts from counting towards the failure limit, both must be set to 0.
- D
Restart=always and RestartSec=30
Why wrong: This option lacks both StartLimitIntervalSec and StartLimitBurst, so default rate limiting applies (5 restarts within 10 seconds), which will eventually stop restarts. Thus, it does not meet the requirement.
EX200 Operate running systems Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of operate running systems. 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 needs to ensure that a specific process continues to run even if it crashes. The process is started by a systemd service unit. Which approach ensures the process is automatically restarted by systemd, with a delay of 30 seconds after each crash, and does not count restarts towards the failure limit?
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
Restart=always, RestartSec=30, StartLimitIntervalSec=0, StartLimitBurst=0
Option A is correct because it combines `Restart=always` to restart the process unconditionally, `RestartSec=30` to introduce a 30-second delay between restarts, and `StartLimitIntervalSec=0` with `StartLimitBurst=0` to disable the start rate limiting entirely. This ensures the service restarts indefinitely after each crash without ever being considered as having failed, which matches the requirement exactly.
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.
- ✓
Restart=always, RestartSec=30, StartLimitIntervalSec=0, StartLimitBurst=0
Why this is correct
This option correctly sets Restart=always, RestartSec=30, StartLimitIntervalSec=0, and StartLimitBurst=0. Setting both interval and burst to 0 disables rate limiting entirely, ensuring the service restarts indefinitely after each crash without being counted towards a failure limit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Restart=on-failure and RestartSec=30
Why it's wrong here
This option uses Restart=on-failure, which only restarts on failure, not on all crashes. It also lacks settings to disable rate limiting, so it does not meet the requirement of indefinite restart without counting restarts.
- ✗
Restart=always, RestartSec=30, StartLimitIntervalSec=0
Why it's wrong here
Option C is incorrect because setting StartLimitIntervalSec=0 alone does not fully disable start rate limiting; systemd will still consider StartLimitBurst if it is not explicitly set to 0. Therefore, to prevent restarts from counting towards the failure limit, both must be set to 0.
- ✗
Restart=always and RestartSec=30
Why it's wrong here
This option lacks both StartLimitIntervalSec and StartLimitBurst, so default rate limiting applies (5 restarts within 10 seconds), which will eventually stop restarts. Thus, it does not meet the requirement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume `Restart=always` alone is sufficient to restart indefinitely, forgetting that systemd's default start rate limiting (5 restarts within 10 seconds) will eventually stop the service unless explicitly disabled. The correct way to disable rate limiting is to set `StartLimitIntervalSec=0` (which disables the interval check regardless of `StartLimitBurst`).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, systemd uses `StartLimitIntervalSec` and `StartLimitBurst` to implement a token-bucket-style rate limiter for service restarts. Setting `StartLimitIntervalSec=0` disables the time window entirely, and `StartLimitBurst=0` effectively sets the burst limit to zero, meaning no restart attempts are ever counted as failures. In a real-world scenario, this configuration is useful for critical daemons like `sshd` or `crond` where any exit must trigger an immediate restart without risking the service being placed in a failed state due to repeated crashes.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Operate running systems — This question tests Operate running systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Restart=always, RestartSec=30, StartLimitIntervalSec=0, StartLimitBurst=0 — Option A is correct because it combines `Restart=always` to restart the process unconditionally, `RestartSec=30` to introduce a 30-second delay between restarts, and `StartLimitIntervalSec=0` with `StartLimitBurst=0` to disable the start rate limiting entirely. This ensures the service restarts indefinitely after each crash without ever being considered as having failed, which matches the requirement exactly.
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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Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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