Which command is utilized to stop a designated service and report a FAILED status if the service is not running?

The command used to stop a designated service and report a FAILED status if the service is not running is indeed the one that correctly aligns with the capabilities of service management in Linux. This command typically checks the current state of the service before attempting to stop it. If the service is already stopped or not running, it returns a status indicating failure, which is useful for scripts and system administrators for debugging or monitoring purposes.

The other options provided do not offer the same functionality. For instance, one command might imply an action to pause or halt services, but it wouldn't provide feedback on the service's initial state. Another option may suggest disabling a service from starting at boot, which does not affect the service's current operational status. Finally, a command implying termination could suggest a forceful action that may not check the service's running status and thus wouldn’t report the situation accurately. Therefore, the selected command is the most appropriate for managing services effectively while providing relevant operational feedback.