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Exam Information
Official specifications published by CompTIA
Exam Format
90 min
Maximum 90 questions
720
Intermediate
Registration
$390 USD
Pearson VUE or online proctoring
Validity
3 years
Pass a higher-level CompTIA certification before expiration; Complete 50 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within 3 years; Pass the current version of Linux+ before expiration
XK0-005 Exam Topics and Domains
XK0-005 is organized into 4 weighted domains. Expect to work with SELinux, ACL implementation, Ansible, AppArmor, and more.
1
System Management
32%
Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS)
Understanding directory structure and purpose
- Navigate the Linux filesystem structure
- Identify standard directory purposes
- Locate system and application files
Linux Boot Process
Boot sequence stages
- Understand complete boot sequence
- Configure bootloader parameters
- Manage systemd targets and runlevels
Package Management
Package managers and formats
- Install, update, and remove packages
- Configure package repositories
- Resolve package dependencies
Storage Management
Disk partitioning and filesystems
- Create and manage disk partitions
- Configure LVM and RAID
- Mount and manage filesystems
- Implement storage quotas
Process and Service Management
Process control and systemd
- Manage system services with systemd
- Monitor and control processes
- Schedule automated tasks
- Manage process priorities
Networking Configuration
Network interface and protocol configuration
- Configure network interfaces
- Manage DNS and DHCP settings
- Implement static routing
- Troubleshoot network connectivity
2
Security
21%
Security Best Practices
File permissions and access controls
- Configure file permissions correctly
- Implement ACLs for complex access scenarios
- Manage special permissions
- Apply principle of least privilege
Authentication and Identity Management
User authentication systems
- Configure PAM for authentication
- Integrate LDAP for centralized authentication
- Implement Kerberos authentication
- Manage sudo access controls
Linux Hardening
Security frameworks and hardening
- Configure and troubleshoot SELinux
- Manage AppArmor profiles
- Implement system auditing
- Apply security hardening practices
Firewall Configuration
Firewall implementation
- Configure iptables firewall rules
- Manage firewalld zones and services
- Implement port forwarding
- Troubleshoot firewall blocking
Remote Access Security
SSH and secure remote access
- Harden SSH server configuration
- Implement key-based authentication
- Configure SSH tunneling
- Manage TLS/SSL certificates
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
Certificate and encryption management
- Create and manage certificates
- Implement GPG encryption
- Validate certificate chains
- Manage public/private keys
3
Scripting, Containers, and Automation
19%
Shell Scripting
Bash scripting fundamentals
- Write executable Bash scripts
- Implement conditional logic and loops
- Handle script input and output
- Use regular expressions for pattern matching
Container Operations
Container management
- Create and manage containers
- Build container images
- Configure container networking
- Manage container storage
Version Control with Git
Git fundamentals
- Initialize and manage Git repositories
- Perform commits and manage branches
- Resolve merge conflicts
- Work with remote repositories
Infrastructure as Code
Configuration management tools
- Write basic Ansible playbooks
- Understand IaC principles
- Implement idempotent configurations
- Choose appropriate automation tools
Kubernetes Basics
Kubernetes fundamentals
- Understand Kubernetes architecture
- Deploy applications to Kubernetes
- Manage Kubernetes resources
- Use kubectl effectively
CI/CD Concepts
Continuous integration and deployment
- Understand CI/CD principles
- Configure basic CI/CD pipelines
- Implement automated testing
- Deploy using automation
4
Troubleshooting
28%
Storage Troubleshooting
Storage issue diagnosis and resolution
- Diagnose filesystem errors
- Recover from disk failures
- Resolve storage performance issues
- Troubleshoot LVM and RAID
Network Troubleshooting
Network connectivity diagnosis
- Diagnose network connectivity issues
- Troubleshoot DNS problems
- Analyze network traffic
- Test port connectivity
CPU and Memory Issues
Resource performance troubleshooting
- Identify high CPU usage causes
- Diagnose memory issues
- Analyze system performance
- Optimize resource usage
User Access and Permissions
Authentication and authorization issues
- Resolve authentication failures
- Fix permission issues
- Troubleshoot SELinux denials
- Debug SSH connection problems
System Performance Monitoring
Performance monitoring and analysis
- Monitor system performance
- Analyze system logs
- Establish performance baselines
- Identify performance bottlenecks
Boot and System Issues
Boot failure and system recovery
- Recover from boot failures
- Fix GRUB issues
- Resolve kernel panics
- Troubleshoot systemd services
How do I earn this certification?
Passing XK0-005 earns the CompTIA Linux+ certification. It sits in the Infrastructure track.
Current Level Exams
Next Level Options
- CS0-003 - CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)Security operations with Linux systems
- SK0-005 - CompTIA Server+Advanced server administration skills
- CV0-004 - CompTIA Cloud+Cloud infrastructure with Linux focus
- RHCSA - Red Hat Certified System Administrator Vendor-specific Linux certification
Alternative Paths
- SY0-701 - CompTIA Security+Security fundamentals complement Linux administration
- PK0-005 - CompTIA Project+Project management for IT infrastructure projects
- DY0-001 - CompTIA DataSys+Database administration on Linux systems
- LPIC-1 - Linux Professional Institute Certification Level 1 Alternative vendor-neutral Linux certification
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for XK0-005 is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- RETIRING
- Last content update: 2022-07-01
- Announcement date: 2024-12-01
Updates
- systemd 254 Core technology for Linux+ process and service management • Release date: 2024-08-01
- Docker 25.x Container management coverage in Domain 3 • Release date: 2024-09-15
- Kubernetes 1.29 Container orchestration basics in Domain 3 • Release date: 2024-12-01
- Ansible 2.16 Infrastructure as Code coverage in Domain 3 • Release date: 2024-11-01
Who should take this exam?
- CompTIA A+ certification
- CompTIA Network+ certification
- 12 months hands-on Linux server administration experience
- Understanding of Linux command line
- Basic networking knowledge