The LPI 102-500 Exam is challenging and thorough preparation is essential for success. This exam study guide is designed to help you prepare for the LPIC-1 certification exam. It contains a detailed list of the topics covered on the Professional exam, as well as a detailed list of preparation resources. This study guide for the LPI Linux Administrator - 102 will help guide you through the study process for your certification.
102-500 LPI Linux Administrator - 102 Exam Summary
● Exam Name: LPI Linux Administrator - 102
● Exam Code: 102-500
● Exam Price: $200 (USD)
● Duration: 90 mins
● Number of Questions: 60
● Passing Score: 500 / 800
● Schedule Exam: LPI Marketplace
● Sample Questions: LPI LPIC-1 Sample Questions
● Recommended Practice: LPI 102-500 Certification Practice Exam
Exam Syllabus: 102-500 LPIC-1 Linux Administrator
1. Shells and Shell Scripting
Customize and use the shell environment
Weight: 4
Description: Candidates should be able to customize shell environments to meet users' needs. Candidates should be able to modify global and user profiles.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Set environment variables (e.g. PATH) at login or when spawning a new shell.
- Write Bash functions for frequently used sequences of commands.
- Maintain skeleton directories for new user accounts.
- Set command search path with the proper directory.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- .
- source
- /etc/bash.bashrc
- /etc/profile
- env
- export
- set
- unset
- ~/.bash_profile
- ~/.bash_login
- ~/.profile
- ~/.bashrc
- ~/.bash_logout
- function
- alias
Customize or write simple scripts
Weight: 4
Description: Candidates should be able to customize existing scripts, or write simple new Bash scripts.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Use standard sh syntax (loops, tests).
- Use command substitution.
- Test return values for success or failure or other information provided by a command.
- Execute chained commands.
- Perform conditional mailing to the superuser.
- Correctly select the script interpreter through the shebang (#!) line.
- Manage the location, ownership, execution and suid-rights of scripts.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- for
- while
- test
- if
- read
- seq
- exec
- ||
- &&
2. User Interfaces and Desktops
Install and configure X11
Weight: 2
Description: Candidates should be able to install and configure X11.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Understanding of the X11 architecture.
- Basic understanding and knowledge of the X Window configuration file.
- Overwrite specific aspects of Xorg configuration, such as keyboard layout.
- Understand the components of desktop environments, such as display managers and window managers.
- Manage access to the X server and display applications on remote X servers.
- Awareness of Wayland.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/X11/xorg.conf
- /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/
- ~/.xsession-errors
- xhost
- xauth
- DISPLAY
- X
Graphical Desktops
Weight: 1
Description: Candidates should be aware of major Linux desktops. Furthermore, candidates should be aware of protocols used to access remote desktop sessions.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Awareness of major desktop environments
- Awareness of protocols to access remote desktop sessions
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- KDE
- Gnome
- Xfce
- X11
- XDMCP
- VNC
- Spice
- RDP
Accessibility
Weight: 1
Description: Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of accessibility technologies.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Basic knowledge of visual settings and themes.
- Basic knowledge of assistive technology.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- High Contrast/Large Print Desktop Themes.
- Screen Reader.
- Braille Display.
- Screen Magnifier.
- On-Screen Keyboard.
- Sticky/Repeat keys.
- Slow/Bounce/Toggle keys.
- Mouse keys.
- Gestures.
- Voice recognition.
3. Administrative Tasks
Manage user and group accounts and related system files
Weight: 5
Description: Candidates should be able to add, remove, suspend and change user accounts.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Add, modify and remove users and groups.
- Manage user/group info in password/group databases.
- Create and manage special purpose and limited accounts.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/passwd
- /etc/shadow
- /etc/group
- /etc/skel/
- chage
- getent
- groupadd
- groupdel
- groupmod
- passwd
- useradd
- userdel
- usermod
Automate system administration tasks by scheduling jobs
Weight: 4
Description: Candidates should be able to use cron and systemd timers to run jobs at regular intervals and to use at to run jobs at a specific time.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Manage cron and at jobs.
- Configure user access to cron and at services.
- Understand systemd timer units.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/cron.{d,daily,hourly,monthly,weekly}/
- /etc/at.deny
- /etc/at.allow
- /etc/crontab
- /etc/cron.allow
- /etc/cron.deny
- /var/spool/cron/
- crontab
- at
- atq
- atrm
- systemctl
- systemd-run
Localisation and internationalisation
Weight: 3
Description: Candidates should be able to localize a system in a different language than English. As well, an understanding of why LANG=C is useful when scripting.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Configure locale settings and environment variables.
- Configure timezone settings and environment variables.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/timezone
- /etc/localtime
- /usr/share/zoneinfo/
- LC_*
- LC_ALL
- LANG
- TZ
- /usr/bin/locale
- tzselect
- timedatectl
- date
- iconv
- UTF-8
- ISO-8859
- ASCII
- Unicode
4. Essential System Services
Maintain system time
Weight: 3
Description: Candidates should be able to properly maintain the system time and synchronize the clock via NTP.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Set the system date and time.
- Set the hardware clock to the correct time in UTC.
- Configure the correct timezone.
- Basic NTP configuration using ntpd and chrony.
- Knowledge of using the pool.ntp.org service.
- Awareness of the ntpq command.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /usr/share/zoneinfo/
- /etc/timezone
- /etc/localtime
- /etc/ntp.conf
- /etc/chrony.conf
- date
- hwclock
- timedatectl
- ntpd
- ntpdate
- chronyc
- pool.ntp.org
System logging
Weight: 4
Description: Candidates should be able to configure rsyslog. This objective also includes configuring the logging daemon to send log output to a central log server or accept log output as a central log server. Use of the systemd journal subsystem is covered. Also, awareness of syslog and syslog-ng as alternative logging systems is included.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Basic configuration of rsyslog.
- Understanding of standard facilities, priorities and actions.
- Query the systemd journal.
- Filter systemd journal data by criteria such as date, service or priority.
- Configure persistent systemd journal storage and journal size.
- Delete old systemd journal data.
- Retrieve systemd journal data from a rescue system or file system copy.
- Understand interaction of rsyslog with systemd-journald.
- Configuration of logrotate.
- Awareness of syslog and syslog-ng.
Terms and Utilities:
- /etc/rsyslog.conf
- /var/log/
- logger
- logrotate
- /etc/logrotate.conf
- /etc/logrotate.d/
- journalctl
- systemd-cat
- /etc/systemd/journald.conf
- /var/log/journal/
Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) basics
Weight: 3
Description: Candidates should be aware of the commonly available MTA programs and be able to perform basic forward and alias configuration on a client host. Other configuration files are not covered.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Create e-mail aliases.
- Configure e-mail forwarding.
- Knowledge of commonly available MTA programs (postfix, sendmail, exim) (no configuration).
Terms and Utilities:
- ~/.forward
- sendmail emulation layer commands
- newaliases
- mailq
- postfix
- sendmail
- exim
Manage printers and printing
Weight: 2
Description: Candidates should be able to manage print queues and user print jobs using CUPS and the LPD compatibility interface.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Basic CUPS configuration (for local and remote printers).
- Manage user print queues.
- Troubleshoot general printing problems.
- Add and remove jobs from configured printer queues.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- CUPS configuration files, tools and utilities
- /etc/cups/
- lpd legacy interface (lpr, lprm, lpq)
5. Networking Fundamentals
Fundamentals of internet protocols
Weight: 4
Description: Candidates should demonstrate a proper understanding of TCP/IP network fundamentals.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Demonstrate an understanding of network masks and CIDR notation.
- Knowledge of the differences between private and public "dotted quad" IP addresses.
- Knowledge about common TCP and UDP ports and services (20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 53, 80, 110, 123, 139, 143, 161, 162, 389, 443, 465, 514, 636, 993, 995).
- Knowledge about the differences and major features of UDP, TCP and ICMP.
- Knowledge of the major differences between IPv4 and IPv6.
- Knowledge of the basic features of IPv6.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/services
- IPv4, IPv6
- Subnetting
- TCP, UDP, ICMP
Persistent network configuration
Weight: 4
Description: Candidates should be able to manage the persistent network configuration of a Linux host.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Understand basic TCP/IP host configuration.
- Configure ethernet and wi-fi network using NetworkManager.
- Awareness of systemd-networkd.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/hostname
- /etc/hosts
- /etc/nsswitch.conf
- /etc/resolv.conf
- nmcli
- hostnamectl
- ifup
- ifdown
Basic network troubleshooting
Weight: 4
Description: Candidates should be able to troubleshoot networking issues on client hosts.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Manually configure network interfaces, including viewing and changing the configuration of network interfaces using iproute2.
- Manually configure routing, including viewing and changing routing tables and setting the default route using iproute2.
- Debug problems associated with the network configuration.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- ip
- hostname
- ss
- ping
- ping6
- traceroute
- traceroute6
- tracepath
- tracepath6
- netcat
- ifconfig
- netstat
- route
Configure client side DNS
Weight: 2
Description: Candidates should be able to configure DNS on a client host.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Query remote DNS servers.
- Configure local name resolution and use remote DNS servers.
- Modify the order in which name resolution is done.
- Debug errors related to name resolution.
- Awareness of systemd-resolved.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/hosts
- /etc/resolv.conf
- /etc/nsswitch.conf
- host
- dig
- getent
6. Security
Perform security administration tasks
Weight: 3
Description: Candidates should know how to review system configuration to ensure host security in accordance with local security policies.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Audit a system to find files with the suid/sgid bit set.
- Set or change user passwords and password aging information.
- Being able to use nmap and netstat to discover open ports on a system.
- Set up limits on user logins, processes and memory usage.
- Determine which users have logged in to the system or are currently logged in.
- Basic sudo configuration and usage.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- find
- passwd
- fuser
- lsof
- nmap
- chage
- netstat
- sudo
-/etc/sudoers
- su
- usermod
- ulimit
- who, w, last
Setup host security
Weight: 3
Description: Candidates should know how to set up a basic level of host security.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Awareness of shadow passwords and how they work.
- Turn off network services not in use.
- Understand the role of TCP wrappers.
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/nologin
- /etc/passwd
- /etc/shadow
- /etc/xinetd.d/
- /etc/xinetd.conf
- systemd.socket
- /etc/inittab
- /etc/init.d/
- /etc/hosts.allow
- /etc/hosts.deny
Securing data with encryption
Weight: 4
Description: The candidate should be able to use public key techniques to secure data and communication.
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Perform basic OpenSSH 2 client configuration and usage.
- Understand the role of OpenSSH 2 server host keys.
- Perform basic GnuPG configuration, usage and revocation.
- Use GPG to encrypt, decrypt, sign and verify files.
- Understand SSH port tunnels (including X11 tunnels).
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- ssh
- ssh-keygen
- ssh-agent
- ssh-add
- ~/.ssh/id_rsa and id_rsa.pub
- ~/.ssh/id_dsa and id_dsa.pub
- ~/.ssh/id_ecdsa and id_ecdsa.pub
- ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 and id_ed25519.pub
- /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key and ssh_host_rsa_key.pub
- /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key and ssh_host_dsa_key.pub
- /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key and ssh_host_ecdsa_key.pub
- /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key and ssh_host_ed25519_key.pub
- ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
- ssh_known_hosts
- gpg
- gpg-agent
- ~/.gnupg/
LPI 102-500 Certification Sample Questions and Answers
To make you familiar with LPI Linux Administrator - 102 (102-500) certification exam structure, we have prepared this sample question set. We suggest you to try our Sample Questions for LPI 102-500 Certification to test your understanding of LPI 102-500 process with real LPI certification exam environment.
102-500 LPI Linux Administrator - 102 Sample Questions:-
01. Which of the following configuration files does the logrotate program consult for its settings?
a) /etc/logrotate.conf
b) /usr/sbin/logrotate/logrotate.conf
c) /usr/src/logrotate/logrotate.conf
d) /etc/logrotate/.conf
e) ∼/.logrotate
02. Ordinary users report being unable to log onto a computer, but root has no problems doing so. What might you check to explain this situation?
a) A misbehaving syslogd daemon
b) A login process that's running as root
c) The presence of an /etc/nologin file
d) The presence of an SUID bit on /bin/login
e) Inappropriate use of shadow passwords
03. Which of the following summarizes the organization of the X configuration file?
a) The file contains multiple sections, one for each screen. Each section includes subsections for individual components (keyboard, video card, and so on).
b) Configuration options are entered in any order desired. Options relating to specific components (keyboard, video card, and so on) may be interspersed.
c) The file begins with a summary of individual screens. Configuration options are preceded by a code word indicating the screen to which they apply.
d) The file is broken into sections, one or more for each component (keyboard, video card, and so on). The file also has one or more sections that define how to combine the main sections.
e) The file is a rare binary configuration file that must be accessed using SQL database tools.
04. In what environment variable is the current working directory stored?
a) PATH
b) CWD
c) PWD
d) PRESENT
e) WORKING
05. Which of the following tasks are most likely to be handled by a cron job?
(Select two.)
a) Starting an important server when the computer boots
b) Finding and deleting old temporary files
c) Scripting supervised account creation
d) Monitoring disk partition space status and emailing a report
e) Sending files to a printer in an orderly manner
06. How can you learn what programs are currently accessing the network on a Linux system?
a) Type ifconfig -p eth0.
b) Examine /proc/network/programs.
c) Type netstat -p.
d) Examine /etc/xinetd.conf.
e) Type dmesg | less.
07. What is an advantage of a font server?
a) It provides faster font displays than are otherwise possible.
b) It can simplify font maintenance on a network with many X servers.
c) It's the only means of providing TrueType support for XFree86 4.x.
d) It enables the computer to turn a bitmapped display into an ASCII text file.
e) It enables X to use font smoothing, which isn't possible with core fonts.
08. Which environment variable stores the format for the command prompt?
a) PROMPT
b) PSI
c) PAGER
d) PS1
e) None of these variables store the format for the command prompt.
09. For best SSH server security, how should you set the Protocol option in /etc/ssh/sshd_config?
a) Protocol 1
b) Protocol 2
c) Protocol 1, 2
d) Protocol 2, 1
e) Protocol *
10. Which of the following entries are found in the /etc/hosts file?
a) Mappings of IP addresses to hostnames
b) A list of hosts allowed to access this one remotely
c) A list of users allowed to access this host remotely
d) Passwords for remote web administration
e) A list of port numbers and their associated protocols
Answers:-
Answer 1 :- a
Answer 2 :- c
Answer 3 :- d
Answer 4 :- c
Answer 5 :- b, d
Answer 6 :- c
Answer 7 :- b
Answer 8 :- d
Answer 9 :- b
Answer 10 :- b