EX200 Deploy, configure, and maintain systems Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of deploy, configure, and maintain 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.
Which two commands correctly set the system to boot into a multi-user target (runlevel 3)?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
systemctl set-default multi-user.target
Option C is correct because `systemctl set-default multi-user.target` sets the default systemd target to multi-user.target, which corresponds to runlevel 3. This command changes the symlink at /etc/systemd/system/default.target to point to the specified target, ensuring the system boots into that target by default.
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 enable multi-user.target
Why it's wrong here
enable is used for services, not targets.
✗
systemctl default multi-user
Why it's wrong here
systemctl default is not a valid subcommand.
✓
systemctl set-default multi-user.target
Why this is correct
Correctly sets the default target to multi-user.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Creates a symlink to the multi-user target as the default.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
systemctl set-default runlevel3.target
Why it's wrong here
runlevel3.target is not a valid target; use multi-user.target.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse `systemctl set-default` with `systemctl enable` or use incorrect target names like `runlevel3.target`, which does not exist in systemd; the correct target is `multi-user.target`.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
systemctl default is not a valid subcommand.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Systemd uses target units to represent system states, with multi-user.target (runlevel 3) providing a non-graphical multi-user environment. The `set-default` command updates the symlink /etc/systemd/system/default.target, which systemd reads at boot to determine the initial target. This mechanism replaces the legacy SysV init runlevel system, where runlevel 3 was set via /etc/inittab.
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.
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 set-default multi-user.target — Option C is correct because `systemctl set-default multi-user.target` sets the default systemd target to multi-user.target, which corresponds to runlevel 3. This command changes the symlink at /etc/systemd/system/default.target to point to the specified target, ensuring the system boots into that target by default.
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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Question Discussion
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