This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of service configuration. 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 produce output that includes the current runlevel or target? (Choose two.)
systemctl list-units --type=target
Why wrong: This lists all targets, not the current one.
systemctl show-environment
Why wrong: Shows environment variables, not runlevel.
runlevel
Displays previous and current runlevel.
who -r
Displays current runlevel.
systemctl get-default
Why wrong: This shows the default target, not the current runlevel.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
runlevel
The `runlevel` command displays the previous and current runlevel from the `/var/run/utmp` file, making it a direct way to see the current runlevel. The `who -r` command reads the same utmp file and prints the current runlevel along with the time of the last runlevel change, so both commands produce output that includes the current runlevel or target.
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.
systemctl list-units --type=target
Why it's wrong here
This lists all targets, not the current one.
systemctl show-environment
Why it's wrong here
Shows environment variables, not runlevel.
runlevel
Why this is correct
Displays previous and current runlevel.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
who -r
Why this is correct
Displays current runlevel.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
systemctl get-default
Why it's wrong here
This shows the default target, not the current runlevel.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often pick `systemctl get-default` (option E) thinking it shows the current target, but it only shows the default target for the next boot, not the currently active target, which is a common confusion between persistent default and runtime state.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows environment variables, not runlevel.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, both `runlevel` and `who -r` parse the utmp file (`/var/run/utmp`), which records runlevel changes via the `init` process or systemd's compatibility layer. In systemd-based systems, runlevels are mapped to targets (e.g., runlevel 3 maps to multi-user.target), but the `runlevel` command still works because systemd maintains a compatibility interface that writes runlevel entries to utmp. A real-world scenario is troubleshooting a system that fails to boot to the expected graphical target; checking `who -r` quickly reveals the current runlevel without needing to parse systemd unit states.
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
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FAQ
Service Configuration — This question tests Service Configuration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: runlevel — The `runlevel` command displays the previous and current runlevel from the `/var/run/utmp` file, making it a direct way to see the current runlevel. The `who -r` command reads the same utmp file and prints the current runlevel along with the time of the last runlevel change, so both commands produce output that includes the current runlevel or target.
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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