- A
chage -M 90 user1; chage -d 0 user1
-M sets max days; -d 0 forces immediate change on next login.
- B
chage -M 90 user1; chage -m 1 user1
Why wrong: -m sets minimum days between changes; does not force immediate change.
- C
chage -M 90 user1; chage -W 7 user1
Why wrong: -W sets warning days, does not force change immediately.
- D
chage -M 90 user1; chage -I 5 user1
Why wrong: -I sets inactivity period after password expiry, not immediate change.
Question 7 of 513
LFCS User and Group Management Practice Question
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.
A security policy requires that a user's password must expire 90 days after last change, and the user must change it immediately on next login. The last password change was 30 days ago. Which set of commands achieves this?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
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.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
chage -M 90 user1; chage -d 0 user1
Option A is correct because `chage -M 90 user1` sets the maximum password age to 90 days, and `chage -d 0 user1` forces the password to expire immediately (setting the last change date to epoch 0), which requires the user to change the password on the next login. This satisfies both requirements: the password will expire 90 days after the forced change, and the user must change it immediately.
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.
- ✓
chage -M 90 user1; chage -d 0 user1
Why this is correct
-M sets max days; -d 0 forces immediate change on next login.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
chage -M 90 user1; chage -m 1 user1
Why it's wrong here
-m sets minimum days between changes; does not force immediate change.
- ✗
chage -M 90 user1; chage -W 7 user1
Why it's wrong here
-W sets warning days, does not force change immediately.
- ✗
chage -M 90 user1; chage -I 5 user1
Why it's wrong here
-I sets inactivity period after password expiry, not immediate change.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse `-d 0` with other `chage` options like `-M`, `-m`, `-W`, or `-I`, not realizing that only `-d 0` forces an immediate password change on next login.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `chage -d 0` command sets the last password change date to the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970), which is interpreted as 'password must be changed immediately' because the current date is always after epoch. This is a standard technique for forcing password reset on next login, and it works with PAM's pam_unix module. In real-world scenarios, this is often used after account creation or when a security breach requires immediate password rotation.
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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User and Group Management practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this LFCS question test?
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: chage -M 90 user1; chage -d 0 user1 — Option A is correct because `chage -M 90 user1` sets the maximum password age to 90 days, and `chage -d 0 user1` forces the password to expire immediately (setting the last change date to epoch 0), which requires the user to change the password on the next login. This satisfies both requirements: the password will expire 90 days after the forced change, and the user must change it immediately.
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: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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