This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of networking. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 utilities can be used to configure network bridges on Linux?
route
Why wrong: route is for manipulating the routing table, not bridges.
ip
The ip command can manage bridges using 'ip link set master' and 'ip link add type bridge'.
nmcli
Why wrong: nmcli can configure bridges but is not the primary utility; it's a frontend.
brctl
brctl is the classic utility for managing Linux bridges.
ifconfig
Why wrong: ifconfig does not support bridge configuration.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ip
The `ip` command (from the iproute2 suite) is the modern, recommended tool for configuring network bridges on Linux. It can create, delete, and manage bridge devices (e.g., `ip link add name br0 type bridge`) and enslave interfaces to them, replacing the older `brctl` utility. `brctl` is also correct as it was the traditional tool from the bridge-utils package, still widely used for bridge management.
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.
route
Why it's wrong here
route is for manipulating the routing table, not bridges.
ip
Why this is correct
The ip command can manage bridges using 'ip link set master' and 'ip link add type bridge'.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
nmcli
Why it's wrong here
nmcli can configure bridges but is not the primary utility; it's a frontend.
brctl
Why this is correct
brctl is the classic utility for managing Linux bridges.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ifconfig
Why it's wrong here
ifconfig does not support bridge configuration.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `route` (Layer 3 routing) with bridge configuration (Layer 2 switching), or assume `ifconfig` is still a valid tool for all interface management tasks, including bridges.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Linux bridges implement the IEEE 802.1D standard and operate at Layer 2, forwarding Ethernet frames based on MAC addresses learned via the bridge's forwarding database (FDB). The `ip` command interacts directly with the kernel's netlink socket to create bridge devices, while `brctl` uses the older ioctl system calls; both ultimately manipulate the same kernel bridge module. In real-world scenarios, using `ip` is preferred for scripting and modern distributions, as it supports advanced features like VLAN filtering and bridge port options that `brctl` lacks.
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
Networking — This question tests Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ip — The `ip` command (from the iproute2 suite) is the modern, recommended tool for configuring network bridges on Linux. It can create, delete, and manage bridge devices (e.g., `ip link add name br0 type bridge`) and enslave interfaces to them, replacing the older `brctl` utility. `brctl` is also correct as it was the traditional tool from the bridge-utils package, still widely used for bridge management.
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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