LFCS Networking Practice Question
Which TWO utilities can be used to configure network bridges on Linux?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse `route` (Layer 3 routing) with bridge configuration (Layer 2 switching), or assume `ifconfig` is still a valid tool for all interface management tasks. Additionally, some may overlook `nmcli` as a bridge configuration tool because it is a higher-level utility, but it can indeed manage bridges.
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
The `ip` command (from the iproute2 suite) is the modern, recommended tool for configuring network bridges on Linux. It can create, delete, and manage bridge devices (e.g., `ip link add name br0 type bridge`) and enslave interfaces to them, replacing the older `brctl` utility. `brctl` is also correct as it was the traditional tool from the bridge-utils package, still widely used for bridge management. Additionally, `nmcli` (NetworkManager command-line interface) can be used to configure bridges via NetworkManager, e.g., `nmcli connection add type bridge ifname br0`. Thus, all three utilities are valid for bridge configuration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
route
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: `route` is used for managing routing tables (Layer 3), not for bridge configuration.
- ✓
ip
Why this is correct
Correct: `ip` from iproute2 can create and manage bridges.
- ✓
nmcli
Why this is correct
Correct: `nmcli` can configure bridges via NetworkManager.
- ✓
brctl
Why this is correct
Correct: `brctl` is the traditional bridge management tool.
- ✗
ifconfig
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: `ifconfig` is outdated and does not support bridge operations beyond basic interface status.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.