010-160 The Linux Operating System Practice Question
A junior admin is confused about the difference between software RAID and hardware RAID. Which of the following is a primary characteristic of software RAID?
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
✓
It is managed by the OS and kernel.
Software RAID is managed by the Linux kernel via the mdadm utility, relying on the host CPU.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
It is managed by the OS and kernel.
Why this is correct
Software RAID is kernel-based management.
- ✗
It is always faster than hardware RAID.
Why it's wrong here
Hardware RAID usually offloads parity calculations to dedicated hardware.
- ✗
It is configured in the BIOS.
Why it's wrong here
Hardware RAID is often configured via BIOS/UEFI.
- ✗
It requires a dedicated controller card.
Why it's wrong here
That describes hardware RAID.
Quick reference
RAID Level Comparison
| RAID Level | Min Disks | Fault Tolerance | Read | Write | Usable Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 | 2 | None | Excellent | Excellent | 100% |
| RAID 1 | 2 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 50% |
| RAID 5 | 3 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 67–94% |
| RAID 6 | 4 | 2 disks | Good | Lower | 50–88% |
| RAID 10 | 4 | 1 disk per mirror | Excellent | Good | 50% |
RAID is not a backup strategy — it protects against disk failure but not against accidental deletion, ransomware, or site-level events.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official LPI exam blueprint
This 010-160 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI 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 010-160 exam.