This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of networking. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO commands can be used to view the current routing table on a Linux system?
netstat -rn
Displays routing table.
ifconfig -a
Why wrong: Shows interfaces, not routing.
ss -tuln
Why wrong: Shows listening sockets.
route -n
Displays routing table.
ip addr
Why wrong: Shows IP addresses.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
netstat -rn
Both `netstat -rn` and `route -n` display the kernel IP routing table. The `-r` flag in netstat shows the routing table, and `-n` disables DNS resolution, showing numeric addresses. The `route -n` command directly prints the routing table without resolving hostnames, making both commands suitable for viewing the current routing table.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
netstat -rn
Why this is correct
Displays routing table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ifconfig -a
Why it's wrong here
Shows interfaces, not routing.
ss -tuln
Why it's wrong here
Shows listening sockets.
route -n
Why this is correct
Displays routing table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ip addr
Why it's wrong here
Shows IP addresses.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse `ip addr` (which shows addresses) with `ip route` (which shows routes), or assume `ifconfig` shows routing information because it displays interface details, but it never shows the routing table.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows interfaces, not routing.
Detailed technical explanation
The routing table is stored in the kernel's FIB (Forwarding Information Base) and is consulted for every outgoing packet to determine the next hop. Both `netstat -rn` and `route -n` read from `/proc/net/route` (for IPv4) or via netlink sockets, while `ip route` uses the modern netlink interface. In real-world scenarios, `route -n` is often preferred in scripts for its simplicity, but `ip route` is the modern replacement recommended for new deployments.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LFCS exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Networking — This question tests Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: netstat -rn — Both `netstat -rn` and `route -n` display the kernel IP routing table. The `-r` flag in netstat shows the routing table, and `-n` disables DNS resolution, showing numeric addresses. The `route -n` command directly prints the routing table without resolving hostnames, making both commands suitable for viewing the current routing table.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the LFCS exam.
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