LFCS Operation of Running Systems Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
$ systemctl status apache2
● apache2.service - The Apache HTTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/apache2.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Tue 2025-03-18 10:15:23 UTC; 2h 15min ago
Main PID: 1234 (apache2)
Tasks: 5 (limit: 1000)
Memory: 15.2M
CGroup: /system.slice/apache2.service
├─1234 /usr/sbin/apache2 -k start
├─1235 /usr/sbin/apache2 -k start
├─1236 /usr/sbin/apache2 -k start
├─1237 /usr/sbin/apache2 -k start
└─1238 /usr/sbin/apache2 -k start
Apr 18 10:15:23 server systemd[1]: Starting The Apache HTTP Server...
Apr 18 10:15:23 server apachectl[1190]: AH00112: Warning: DocumentRoot [/var/www/html] does not exist
Apr 18 10:15:23 server systemd[1]: Started The Apache HTTP Server.
```Refer to the exhibit. What is the most likely issue with the Apache web server?
⚠ Common exam trap
Linux Foundation often tests the distinction between a service being 'running' versus being 'functional'—candidates see 'active (running)' and assume everything is fine, missing that a missing DocumentRoot or misconfigured directory can render the web server non-functional despite the process being alive.
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
✓
The DocumentRoot directory does not exist.
The most likely issue is that the DocumentRoot directory does not exist. When Apache starts, it checks for the existence of the directory specified by the DocumentRoot directive (e.g., /var/www/html). If this directory is missing, Apache will fail to serve content and may log an error like 'Primary script unknown' or 'Directory index forbidden', even though the service itself is running and enabled. This is a common misconfiguration after moving or deleting the web root.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The service is not enabled.
Why it's wrong here
The output shows 'enabled'.
- ✗
The main PID is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
There is no indication of PID issues.
- ✓
The DocumentRoot directory does not exist.
Why this is correct
The log shows a warning that the DocumentRoot does not exist.
- ✗
The service is not running.
Why it's wrong here
The status shows 'active (running)'.
Go deeper
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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