CompTIA Linux+ study guide · 2026

The 5 CompTIA Linux+ domains, explained

5 domains and 29 official objectives. System Management carries the most weight at 23%. Each guide explains what the domain covers, how its questions are framed and where candidates lose marks.

Start with Domain 1 See all domains
Questions
Maximum of 90 (multiple-choice and performance-based)
Time
90 minutes
Passing score
720 (on a scale of 100-900)
Outline
CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 V8 Exam Objectives, Document Version 5.0 (exam launched 15 July 2025)

Exam blueprint

Bar widths follow the official weights. Weight ranges are drawn at their midpoint.

  1. 1 23%
  2. 2 20%
  3. 3 18%
  4. 4 17%
  5. 5 22%
  1. 1 System Management
  2. 2 Services and User Management
  3. 3 Security
  4. 4 Automation, Orchestration, and Scripting
  5. 5 Troubleshooting

All 5 domains

29 official objectives 100–140 hrs suggested study

  1. Domain 01 23%

    System Management

    The heaviest Linux+ domain covers how a server boots, finds its hardware, stores data, joins the network and gets backed up. Almost every troubleshooting scenario later in the exam assumes you can do these tasks from the command line.

    Inside this domain

    • Explain basic Linux concepts.
    • Summarize Linux device management concepts and tools.
    • Given a scenario, manage storage in a Linux system.
    • Given a scenario, manage network services and configurations on a Linux server.
    • and 3 more objectives

    Watch for Growing the wrong layer

    Objectives
    7
    Questions est.
    ~21
    Study time est.
    25–30 hrs
  2. Domain 02 20%

    Services and User Management

    This domain is about what runs on a Linux server and who runs it: files, local accounts, processes, packages, systemd units and containers. Expect scenario questions that hinge on one precise option or unit state.

    Inside this domain

    • Given a scenario, manage files and directories on a Linux system.
    • Given a scenario, perform local account management in a Linux environment.
    • Given a scenario, manage processes and jobs in a Linux environment.
    • Given a scenario, configure and manage software in a Linux environment.
    • and 2 more objectives

    Watch for Disable instead of mask

    Objectives
    6
    Questions est.
    ~18
    Study time est.
    20–30 hrs
  3. Domain 03 18%

    Security

    Security asks you to harden a Linux server without breaking it: authentication and logging, firewalls, sudo, permissions, SELinux, SSH, password policy, encryption and audit tooling. The best answer usually fixes the cause while keeping protections switched on.

    Inside this domain

    • Summarize authorization, authentication, and accounting methods.
    • Given a scenario, configure and implement firewalls on a Linux system.
    • Given a scenario, apply operating system (OS) hardening techniques on a Linux system.
    • Explain account hardening techniques and best practices.
    • and 2 more objectives

    Watch for Disable the control

    Objectives
    6
    Questions est.
    ~16
    Study time est.
    20–25 hrs
  4. Domain 04 17%

    Automation, Orchestration, and Scripting

    This domain moves from typing commands to writing them down: Bash scripts, infrastructure as code, CI/CD, container orchestration, Python basics, Git and the responsible use of AI tools. Questions test whether you can read code and pick the right tool for the scale.

    Inside this domain

    • Summarize the use cases and techniques of automation and orchestration in a Linux environment.
    • Given a scenario, perform automated tasks using shell scripting.
    • Summarize Python basics used for Linux system administration.
    • Given a scenario, implement version control using Git.
    • and 1 more objectives

    Watch for String comparison on numbers

    Objectives
    5
    Questions est.
    ~15
    Study time est.
    15–25 hrs
  5. Domain 05 22%

    Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting is the second-heaviest domain and the one that ties the exam together. You read symptoms and output, separate cause from side effect, and choose the fix, drawing on every tool from the other four domains.

    Inside this domain

    • Summarize monitoring concepts and configurations in a Linux system.
    • Given a scenario, analyze and troubleshoot hardware, storage, and Linux OS issues.
    • Given a scenario, analyze and troubleshoot networking issues on a Linux system.
    • Given a scenario, analyze and troubleshoot security issues on a Linux system.
    • and 1 more objectives

    Watch for Fix before diagnosis

    Objectives
    5
    Questions est.
    ~20
    Study time est.
    20–30 hrs

Study the heaviest domains first

Marks follow weight. This order puts the most marks behind you first, across about 100–140 hrs of study.

  1. 1 System Management 23% · 25–30 hrs
  2. 5 Troubleshooting 22% · 20–30 hrs
  3. 2 Services and User Management 20% · 20–30 hrs
  4. 3 Security 18% · 20–25 hrs
  5. 4 Automation, Orchestration, and Scripting 17% · 15–25 hrs

Try one

Practice questionDomain 1: System Management

An administrator added a new disk to a server and ran pvcreate and vgextend so that volume group vg0 now has free space. The root logical volume /dev/vg0/root is formatted XFS and mounted at /. Which single command makes all the new space usable by the root filesystem?

One trap from every domain

The answer that looks right, and the clue that gives it away.

  • Domain 1

    Growing the wrong layer

    Clue The scenario says the command succeeded but df still shows the old size.

  • Domain 2

    Disable instead of mask

    Clue Words such as "must never start" or "keeps coming back" despite being disabled.

  • Domain 3

    Disable the control

    Clue The question asks for the BEST or MOST secure way to restore function.

  • Domain 4

    String comparison on numbers

    Clue Numeric thresholds with values of different digit lengths.

  • Domain 5

    Fix before diagnosis

    Clue The question asks for the FIRST or NEXT step, or the problem recurs.

Other Networking certifications

Study guides for exams that overlap with CompTIA Linux+.

Practise what you read

CompTIA Linux+ domains: common questions

How many domains are in the CompTIA Linux+ exam?

CompTIA Linux+ has 5 domains with 29 official objectives between them: System Management, Services and User Management, Security, Automation, Orchestration, and Scripting and Troubleshooting.

Which CompTIA Linux+ domain carries the most weight?

System Management is the heaviest at 23%, followed by Troubleshooting (22%). The lightest is Automation, Orchestration, and Scripting (17%). Weights come from CompTIA's official outline.

What is the CompTIA Linux+ exam format?

Questions: Maximum of 90 (multiple-choice and performance-based). Time allowed: 90 minutes. Passing score: 720 (on a scale of 100-900).

How long should I study for CompTIA Linux+?

Our planning estimate is 100–140 hrs across all domains, split by weight. It is an editorial estimate, not an official figure, so adjust it to your experience and to how you score on practice questions.

Where should I start?

Start with System Management, because it carries the most marks, then work down by weight. Use the checklist on each domain page to confirm you can do what the domain asks before moving on.

Which outline is this guide based on?

This guide follows CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 V8 Exam Objectives, Document Version 5.0 (exam launched 15 July 2025), published by CompTIA. It was last reviewed in October 2026.

Domain names, weights and objectives come from CompTIA's official outline (CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 V8 Exam Objectives, Document Version 5.0 (exam launched 15 July 2025)). Question counts and study hours are editorial planning estimates, not official figures. Last reviewed October 2026.