This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of user and group management. 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.
You are managing a Linux server that hosts web applications. Developers often need to access the server via SSH using their personal accounts. You have been asked to create a new user 'devops' who will have sudo privileges to restart services. The user 'devops' should be a member of the 'sudo' group and also have a secondary group 'devs' for file access. The user's home directory should be /home/devops. You need to create this user with a password that is set to expire immediately so that the user must choose a new password upon first login. Which command would you use to accomplish this?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
Option D is correct. useradd -m creates home, -g devs sets primary group to devs, -G sudo sets supplementary groups, and chage -d 0 forces immediate password change. Option A: -e 0 sets account expiry. Option B: -p '' sets empty password, not secure. Option C: passwd -e is not a standard command.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
-e 0 sets account expiry, not password expiry; password is set but not forced to change.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related LFCS questions on access control and AAA configuration.
User and Group Management — This question tests User and Group Management — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: useradd -m -g devs -G sudo devops && chage -d 0 devops — Option D is correct. useradd -m creates home, -g devs sets primary group to devs, -G sudo sets supplementary groups, and chage -d 0 forces immediate password change. Option A: -e 0 sets account expiry. Option B: -p '' sets empty password, not secure. Option C: passwd -e is not a standard command.
What should I do if I get this LFCS question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related LFCS questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first", "which command", "immediately / without restart". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Question Discussion
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