CompTIA Linux+

Certification
Exam Objectives T
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EXAM NUMBER: XK0-006
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CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

Copyright © 2024 CompTIA, Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Exam
The CompTIA Linux+ certification exam will certify the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills required
to configure, manage, operate, and troubleshoot Linux server environments while using security best practices,
scripting, containerization, virtualization, and automation.

This is equivalent to 12 months of hands-on experience working with Linux servers. Certifications in and/or

These content examples are meant to clarify the test objectives and should not be construed as a comprehensive
listing of all the content of this examination.

EXAM ACCREDITATION
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undergoes regular reviews and updates to the exam objectives.

EXAM DEVELOPMENT
CompTIA exams result from subject matter expert workshops and industry-wide survey results regarding the skills
and knowledge required of an IT professional.

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PLEASE NOTE
The lists of examples provided in bulleted format are not exhaustive lists. Other examples of technologies, processes,
or tasks pertaining to each objective may also be included on the exam, although not listed or covered in this
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objectives document. CompTIA is constantly reviewing the content of our exams and updating test questions to be
sure our exams are current, and the security of the questions is protected. When necessary, we will publish updated
exams based on existing exam objectives. Please know that all related exam preparation materials will still be valid.

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

Copyright © 2024 CompTIA, Inc. All rights reserved.
TEST DETAILS
Required exam XK0-006

Types of questions Multiple-choice and performance-based

Length of test
Recommended experience

EXAM OBJECTIVES (DOMAINS)

The table below lists the domains measured by this examination and the extent to which they are represented.

DOMAIN PERCENTAGE OF EXAMINATION

0 23%
0 0
0 18%
0
0

Total

T 100%
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CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

Copyright © 2024 CompTIA, Inc. All rights reserved.
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1.1 Explain basic Linux concepts.

• Basic boot process

Bootloader
o
Configuration files
Kernel
o
Parameters
Initial RAM [random-access memory] disk (initrd)
X

• FilesystemHierarchyStandard(FHS)
/
/bin
/boot
/dev
/etc

T
AF
/home
/lib
/proc
/sbin
/tmp
/usr
/var
• Server architectures
R

6
-
6
66 6
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• Distributions

• GraphicalUserInterface(GUI)

Window managers
X
Wayland
• Software licensing
Opensource software
Free software
Proprietary software
Copyleft

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

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 0

1.2

• Kernel modules lshw

depmod lsmem
insmod lspci
lsmod lsusb
modinfo
• initrd management
modprobe
dracut
rmmod
mkinitrd
• Device management
• Custom hardware
dmesg
Embedded systems
dmidecode
ipmitool
lm_sensors
o
nvtop
lscpu

1.3

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Given a scenario, manage storage in a Linux system.
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• LogicalVolumeManager(LVM) • Partitions • Mounted storage
Logical volume blkid Mounting
o
lvchange fdisk/gdisk o
/etc/fstab
o
lvcreate growpart o
/etc/mtab
lsblk
o
lvdisplay o
/proc/mounts
parted
o
lvremove o
autofs
o
lvresize/lvextend • Filesystems o
mount
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Formats
o
lvs o
umount
o
xfs Mount options
• Volume group o

vgchange
o
noatime
vgcreate
o
btrfs o
nodev
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vgdisplay
o
tmpfs o
nodiratime
vgexport • Utilities o
noexec
vgextend df o
nofail
vgimport du o
nosuid
vgremove fio o
remount
vgs fsck
vgscan
o
ro
mkfs
resize2fs
o
rw
• Physical volume
pvcreate o
pvdisplay
pvmove
o
• Redundant Array of Independent
pvremove Disks(RAID)
pvresize /proc/mdstat • Inodes
pvs mdadm
pvscan

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

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 0

1.4 Given a scenario, manage network services and configurations on a Linux server.

• Network configuration • Common network tools

/etc/hosts arp
/etc/resolv.conf curl
/etc/nsswitch.conf dig
• NetworkManager ethtool
nmcli hostname
nmconnect ip
o
ip address
• Netplan o
ip link
netplan apply
netplan status
o
ip route
netplan try iperf3
mtr
o
Configuration files
nc
(i) /etc/netplan nmap
nslookup

T ping/ping6
ss
tcpdump
tracepath
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traceroute

1.5 Given a scenario, manage a Linux system using common shell operations.

• Common environmental variables • Channel redirection sort

DISPLAY < source
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HOME > tail

PATH << tee
PS1 >> tr
SHELL uname
USER uniq
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• Paths wc
Absolute xargs
Here docs
o
~ • Text editors
o
<<< vi/vim
o
/
• Basic shell utilities nano
• Relative
!
.
!!
..
alias
-
awk
• Shell environment configurations bc
.bashrc cat
.bash_profile cut
.profile echo
grep
head
history
less
more
printf
sed

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

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 0

1.6 Given a scenario, perform backup and restore operations for a Linux server.

• Archiving • Other tools

cpio dd
tar ddrescue
rsync
• Compression tools
zcat
-
zgrep
bzip2
gzip zless
unzip
xz

1.7

• Linux hypervisors

K K

T
• Virtual machines (VMs)
Paravirtualized drivers
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o
Convert
o
Resize
o
Image properties

• VM operations
Resources
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o
RAM
o

o
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Baseline image templates

Cloning
Migrations

• Bare metal vs. virtual machines

• Network types
Bridged

Host-only/isolated
Routed
Open
• Virtual machine tools
libvirt
virsh
virt-man

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

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 0
2.1 Given a scenario, manage files and directories on a Linux system.
• Links
• Utilities
Hard link
cd
cp • Device types in /dev
diff Block devices
file Character devices
find
ln
locate
ls
lsof
mkdir
mv
pwd
rm
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rmdir
sdiff
stat
touch

2.2 Given a scenario, perform local account management in a Linux environment.

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• Add • Expiration • Attributes

adduser Configuration files
groupadd chage
useradd • List
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• Delete getent passwd

deluser groups • User accounts vs. system
groupdel id accounts vs. service accounts
userdel last
lastlog
• Modify
w
chsh
who
groupmod
whoami
passwd
usermod • User profile templates
/etc/profile
• Lock
/etc/skel
chage
passwd • Account files
usermod /etc/group
/etc/passwd
/etc/shadow

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

Copyright © 2024 CompTIA, Inc. All rights reserved.
 0

2.3 Given a scenario, manage processes and jobs in a Linux environment.

• Process verification • Process states exec

/proc/<PID> Running fg
atop Blocked jobs
htop kill
lsof killall
mpstat nohup
pidstat • Priority pkill
ps nice
pstree renice o

strace o
9 KILL
top • Process limits
• Job and process management
o
15 TERM
• Process ID & • Scheduling
Parent Process Identification bg anacron
Ctrl + c at
Ctrl + d crontab
Ctrl + z

2.4

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Given a scenario, configure and manage software in a Linux environment.
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• Installation, update, and removal • Update alternatives
Repository • Software configuration
• Sandboxed applications
Package dependencies and conflicts • Basic configurations of common services
Package managers
Language-specific
o
pip
o
cargo
R

o
npm
o

• Repository management o
Enabling/disabling
Third party
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• Package and repository exclusions

2.5 Given a scenario, manage Linux using systemd.

• Systemd units • Managing unit states
daemon-reload
Timers disable
Mounts edit
Targets enable
mask
• Utilities
reload
hostnamectl
restart
resolvectl
start
sysctl
status
systemctl
stop
systemd-analyze
unmask
systemd-blame
systemd-resolved
timedatectl

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

Copyright © 2024 CompTIA, Inc. All rights reserved.
 0

2.6 Given a scenario, manage applications in a container on a Linux server.

• Runtimes
runC
Podman
containerd

• Image operations
Pulling images
Build an image
o

(iv) FROM
Pruning
Tags
Layers

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• Container operations
Read container logs
Map container volumes
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Inspect containers

Run
Exec
Pruning
Tags
Environmental variables
• Volume operations
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Create volume
Mapping volume
Pruning
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Overlay
• Container networks
Create network
Port mapping
Pruning
Types
o
macvlan
o
ipvlan
o
Host
o
Bridge
o
Overlay
o

• Privileged vs. unprivileged

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

Copyright © 2024 CompTIA, Inc. All rights reserved.
 0
3.1

• Polkit • realm • Logging • System audit

• Pluggable Authentication • Lightweight Directory journalctl audit.rules
Modules(PAM) AccessProtocol(LDAP) rsyslog auditd
• System Security Services • Kerberos logrotate
Daemon(SSSD)/Winbind • Samba /var/log

3.2 Given a scenario, configure and implement firewalls on a Linux system.

• firewalld բ nftables
firewall-cmd բ iptables
Runtime vs. permanent
Rich rules

Ports vs. services

T բ ipset
• Netfilter module
• Address translation • Stateful vs. stateless
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• Internetrotocol(IP)forwarding
• Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw) net.ipv4.ip_forward
Ports vs. services

3.3
• Privilege escalation o
• Secure remote access
sudo
R

o
setuid
o
/etc/sudoers o
setgid o
Key vs. password authentication
(i) NOEXEC o

(ii) NOPASSWD implications mode mask (umask) o

PermitRootLogin
/etc/sudoers.d X
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o
• Access control o

o
visudo o

o
sudo -i o
setfacl o
AllowGroups
o
wheel group o
getfacl
o
sudo group
su - o
restorecon
o
semanage
o
chroot
• File attributes
fail2ban
chattr o
chcon
lsattr o
ls -Z • Avoid the use of unsecure
o
immutable o
getenforce access services
Telnet
o
append only o
setenforce
• Permissions
o
getsebool
File permissions o
setsebool
• Disabling unused file systems
o
chgrp o
audit2allow
• Removal of unnecessary Set
o
chmod o
sealert
UserID(SUID)permissions
(i) Octal o
• Secure boot
(i) Enforcing
o
chown (ii) Permissive

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

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 0

3.4 Explain account hardening techniques and best practices.

• Passwords • Checking existing breach lists

Complexity • Restricted shells
Length /sbin/nologin
Expiration /bin/rbash
Reuse բ pam_tally2
History
• Avoid running as root
• Multifactorauthentication(MFA)

3.5 Explain cryptographic concepts and technologies in a Linux environment.

• Data at rest • Hashing

T
File encryption - 6
o
GPG
Filesystem encryption • Removal of weak algorithms
o
K K • Certificate management
AF
o
Argon2 Trusted root certificates
o
• Data in transit
o
Commercial
WireGuard • Avoiding self-signed certificates
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3.6 Explain the importance of compliance and audit procedures.

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• Detection and response • Standards and audit • Secure data destruction

Anti-malware shred
badblocks -w
dd if=/dev/urandom
• Vulnerability scanning
Cryptographic destruction
• File integrity • Software supply chain
• Security banners
/etc/issue
Backporting patches Rootkit hunter (rkhunter) /etc/issue.net
/etc/motd
Tools Installed file verification
o
Port scanners
o
Protocol analyzer

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

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 0
4.1
environment.
• Infrastructure as code • OpenTofu • Deployment orchestration
Ansible Provider Kubernetes
o
Playbooks Resource o
ConfigMaps
o
Inventory o

Application programming
o
Modules o
Pods
o
Ad hoc o

o
Collections • Unattended deployment o

Kickstart
o
Facts o

Cloud-init
o
Agentless o

• Continuousintegration/
• Puppet
Classes
Certificates
Modules

T Continuousdeployment(CI/CD)

GitOps
o

o
Tasks
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Facts o
Pipelines
Agent/Agentless o

o
Compose file
o

o
Logs
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4.2 Given a scenario, perform automated tasks using shell scripting.

• Expansion • Comparisons • Test
Parameter expansion !
-d
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o
${var} o
-eq
Command substitution o
-ge -f
$(foo) -n
o o
-gt
`foo` -z
o o
-le
o
-lt • Variables
o
(foo) o
-ne Environmental
Arguments
• Functions
Assignments
• InternalFieldSeparator/ o
>
OutputFieldSeparator(IFS/OFS)
o
alias
o
<
• Conditional statements o
export
o
==
if o
local
o
=
case o
set
o
= ~
• Looping statements o
unalias
o
! =
until o
unset
o
<=
for Return codes
o
>=
while o
$?
• Regular expressions
• Interpreter directive
[[ $foo =~ regex ]]
#!

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

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 0

4.3

• Setting up a virtual environment o

• Built-in modules o
Floating point
• Installing dependencies o
Integer
• Python fundamentals o
List
Indentations o
Current versions
Extensible using modules and packages
o
Boolean • PythonEnhancementProposal(PEP)8bestpractices

4.4 Given a scenario, implement version control using Git.

բ
բ
բ
.gitignore
add
branch

T բ
բ
բ
diff
fetch
init
բ
բ
բ
pull
push
rebase
AF
բ checkout բ log բ reset
բ clone բ merge բ stash
բ commit squash բ tag
բ config
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4.5

• Common use cases

D

Generation of code
Generation of regular expressions o

Generation of infrastructure as code

(ii) Human review
Recommendations for how to improve compliance o
Local models
Code optimization (i) Private vs. public
Code linting Adhere to corporate policy

• Best practices • Prompt engineering

Avoid copy/paste without review/quality assurance

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

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 0

5.1

• Service monitoring Webhooks

Health checks
Log aggregation
• Configurations
• Data acquisition methods Thresholds
Alerts
o
Traps Events
o

T
Agent/agentless Logging
AF
5.2

• Common issues
Kernel panic
Killed processes
Kernel corruption issues PATH misconfiguration issues
Package dependency issues
Filesystem will not mount Missing or disabled drivers
R

Quota issues
Memory leaks
D

Inode exhaustion
Partition not writable

5.3 Given a scenario, analyze and troubleshoot networking issues on a Linux system.

• Common issues Routing issues

Misconfigured firewalls o
Gateway

IP conflicts
Interface misconfiguration 6
o
Link down
o
Bonding Link negotiation issues
o

o
Cannot ping server

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

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 0

5.4 Given a scenario, analyze and troubleshoot security issues on a Linux system.

• Common issues

o
Policy
o
Context
o
Booleans
File and directory permission issues
o
ACLs
o
Attributes
Account access

Exposed or misconfigured services

Remote access issues
Certificate issues
Misconfigured package repository

Cipher negotiation issues

T
AF
5.5 Given a scenario, analyze and troubleshoot performance issues.

• Common symptoms
R

Out of memory
D

High load average

High context switching
High failed log-in attempts

Packet drops
Jitter
Random disconnects
Random timeouts
High latency

High disk latency

Low throughput
Blocked processes
Hardware errors

Exceeding baselines
4.5

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

Copyright © 2024 CompTIA, Inc. All rights reserved.
CompTIA Linux+ Acronym List
The following acronyms appear on the CompTIA Linux+ exam. Candidates are
encouraged to review the complete list and attain a working knowledge of all
listed acronyms as part of a comprehensive exam preparation program.
ACRONYM SPELLED OUT ACRONYM SPELLED OUT
ACL Access Control List K K
AI Artificial Intelligence
LLM Large Language Model
API Application Programming Interface K K
K K

MAC Media Access Control

MBR Master Boot Record
MFA Multifactor Authentication
MIB Management Information Base

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AF
OOM Out of Memory

Protocol

FTP File Transfer Protocol

PAM Pluggable Authentication Modules
R

PAT Port Addresss Translation

PEP Python Enhancement Proposal

PKI Public Key Infrastructure

D

Table
PTP Precision Time Protocol
PXE Preboot Execution Environment

HMAC Hashed Message Authentication Code RAM Random Access Memory

HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
RPM Red Hat Package Manager

I/O Input/Output

IoC Indicators of Compromise

IP Internet Protocol

CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

Copyright © 2024 CompTIA, Inc. All rights reserved.
ACRONYM SPELLED OUT

TFTP Trivial File Transfer Protocol

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CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Certification Exam: Exam Objectives Version 1.2

Copyright © 2024 CompTIA, Inc. All rights reserved.
CompTIA has included this sample list of hardware and software to assist
candidates as they prepare for the Linux+ certification exam. This list may
also be helpful for training companies that wish to create a lab component
for their training offering. The bulleted lists below each topic are sample
lists and are not exhaustive.

EQUIPMENT SOFTWARE RECOMMENDED DISTRIBUTIONS

• Internet access • Automation tools • Alma Linux
• Laptop or desktop that
supports virtualization or access
to a cloud service provider

T Ansible
Puppet
• Containerization software
• Debian
• Fedora Linux
• OpenSUSE/SUSELinux
AF
• Network EnterpriseServer(SLES)
• Router Kubernetes • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Spareparts/hardware • Rocky Linux
o
Minikube
• Solid-statedrive(SSD) • Ubuntu
Podman
• Switch
• UniversalSerialBus(USB)media • Git
• Wirelessaccesspoint • Git repository
• LLM access
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• Package repository
• PuTTY or SSH client
• Python 3
• Virtualization software
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