This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of user and group management. 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.
You are the Linux administrator for a medium-sized company that uses a centralized authentication system (LDAP) for user accounts, but local files (/etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, /etc/group) are also used for a few service accounts. The server is running RHEL 8. A new employee, 'jane', needs to be added to the local system for a temporary project. You create the user with 'useradd jane' and set a password with 'passwd jane'. However, when jane tries to log in via SSH using her password, she receives 'Permission denied, please try again.' The SSH server is configured to allow password authentication. Other users (both LDAP and local) can log in successfully. You verify that the password was set correctly and that the account is not locked. What is the most likely cause and solution?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change jane's login shell to /bin/bash using usermod -s /bin/bash jane
Option B is correct because the default shell for a new user created with 'useradd' on RHEL 8 is often /sbin/nologin, which prevents login. SSH authentication succeeds at the password level, but the session is immediately rejected because the shell is not a valid interactive shell. Changing the shell to /bin/bash with 'usermod -s /bin/bash jane' resolves this.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Configure the SSH daemon to allow password authentication for local users
Why it's wrong here
The SSH server already allows password authentication.
✓
Change jane's login shell to /bin/bash using usermod -s /bin/bash jane
Why this is correct
If the user's shell is set to /sbin/nologin or a non-existent shell, SSH will reject authentication despite correct password.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Unlock the account using passwd -u jane
Why it's wrong here
The account is not locked according to the administrator's verification.
✗
Remove the password expiry for jane using chage -E -1 jane
Why it's wrong here
Password expiry would cause a warning, not immediate denial.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often focus on password authentication or account locking, overlooking that the default shell for new users on RHEL 8 may be /sbin/nologin, which silently rejects login after authentication succeeds.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a user's shell is set to /sbin/nologin, the system's PAM configuration (specifically pam_nologin.so) or the SSH daemon itself checks the shell path during session initialization. If the shell is listed in /etc/shells as a non-login shell, SSH will close the connection after successful authentication. This behavior is defined in the SSH protocol (RFC 4252) and is a common security measure to prevent interactive logins for service accounts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
User and Group Management — This question tests User and Group Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change jane's login shell to /bin/bash using usermod -s /bin/bash jane — Option B is correct because the default shell for a new user created with 'useradd' on RHEL 8 is often /sbin/nologin, which prevents login. SSH authentication succeeds at the password level, but the session is immediately rejected because the shell is not a valid interactive shell. Changing the shell to /bin/bash with 'usermod -s /bin/bash jane' resolves this.
What should I do if I get this LFCS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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