LFCS Networking Practice Question
An administrator needs to view the current IPv4 addresses, link state, and interface names on a Linux server without making any changes. Which command provides this information in a single invocation?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is reaching for the deprecated ifconfig -a out of habit instead of the current ip addr show.
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
✓
ip addr show
The ip command from iproute2 is the current standard for network configuration and inspection. ip addr show lists every interface with its operational state, MAC address, and assigned IPv4/IPv6 addresses, which is precisely the information requested. The other commands either show unrelated data or belong to deprecated tooling.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ip addr show
Why this is correct
ip addr show displays all interfaces with their link state and assigned IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. It is the standard, non-disruptive command to inspect current addressing and interface status, exactly matching the requirement to view addresses and link state without modifying configuration.
- ✗
ifconfig -a
Why it's wrong here
ifconfig -a shows interfaces and addresses on systems where net-tools is installed, but it is deprecated on modern distributions and may not be present. It also does not show the richer link details that ip addr show provides, making it a less reliable choice for current Linux systems.
- ✗
ss -tuln
Why it's wrong here
ss -tuln displays listening TCP and UDP sockets with numeric addresses and ports. It is a socket statistics tool, not an interface inspection tool, so it does not show the server's IPv4 addresses or link state.
- ✗
ip route show
Why it's wrong here
ip route show lists the routing table entries, not interface addresses or link state. While useful for verifying the default gateway and connected routes, it does not satisfy the requirement to view IPv4 addresses and interface status in a single command.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every LFCS question from scratch — 406 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Linux Foundation exam blueprint
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.