The correct answer is that 'systemctl status' shows whether a service is running, and 'systemctl list-units --type=service' filters output to show only service units. These two statements are true because systemd organizes all daemons and background processes as service units, and the 'list-units' command with the '--type=service' flag isolates exactly those units from the broader system state, while 'status' provides a real-time snapshot of a unit’s current condition—active, inactive, or failed. On the RHCSA EX200 exam, this tests your ability to verify service health and filter unit output efficiently, a core skill for managing RHEL 9 systems. A common trap is confusing 'list-units' with 'list-unit-files'; remember that 'list-units' shows loaded and active units, not all installed ones. For a memory tip, think "status shows state, list-units filters fate"—the first tells you if it’s running, the second narrows your view to services only.
EX200 Deploy, configure, and maintain systems Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of deploy, configure, and maintain systems. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 TWO statements are true about systemd services in RHEL 9? (Choose exactly two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
'systemctl list-units --type=service' lists all service units.
Option A is correct because 'systemctl list-units --type=service' filters the output to show only service units, which are the primary unit type for managing daemons and background processes. Option C is correct because 'systemctl status' displays the current state of a unit, including whether it is active (running), inactive (stopped), or in another state like failed.
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.
✓
'systemctl list-units --type=service' lists all service units.
Why this is correct
This lists loaded service units.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
'systemctl enable' starts the service immediately.
Why it's wrong here
'enable' only creates symlinks for auto-start at boot.
✓
'systemctl status' shows whether a service is running.
Why this is correct
It shows active/inactive status.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
'systemctl mask' disables a service but allows manual start.
Why it's wrong here
'mask' creates symlink to /dev/null, preventing start.
✗
'systemctl disable' stops the service immediately.
Why it's wrong here
'disable' removes symlinks, does not stop.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'enable' with 'start' and 'disable' with 'stop', or think 'mask' is a softer form of disable that still permits manual activation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, systemd uses unit files located in /usr/lib/systemd/system/ and /etc/systemd/system/; 'systemctl enable' creates a symlink in the .wants directory of the target, while 'mask' replaces the unit file with a symlink to /dev/null, making any start attempt fail silently. In real-world scenarios, masking is used to permanently prevent a service like firewalld from starting, even if another service depends on it, whereas disabling still allows manual start via 'systemctl start'.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
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.
Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — This question tests Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 'systemctl list-units --type=service' lists all service units. — Option A is correct because 'systemctl list-units --type=service' filters the output to show only service units, which are the primary unit type for managing daemons and background processes. Option C is correct because 'systemctl status' displays the current state of a unit, including whether it is active (running), inactive (stopped), or in another state like failed.
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.
About these practice questions
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Variation 1. A system administrator needs to ensure that a web server running Apache httpd starts automatically after a system reboot. Which command should the administrator use to enable the httpd service?
medium
A.systemctl daemon-reload
B.systemctl start httpd
C.systemctl reenable httpd
✓ D.systemctl enable httpd
Why D: Option D is correct because `systemctl enable httpd` creates the necessary symlinks in the systemd unit configuration directories (e.g., `/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/`) to ensure the httpd service starts automatically at boot. This is the standard method for enabling a service in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8/9 environment using systemd.
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Question Discussion
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