This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of gnu and unix commands. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 company runs a legacy application on a Linux server. The application fails to start after a reboot, claiming a 'cannot open shared object file' error. The system administrator checks the library path and finds that the required library is present in /usr/local/lib but the application cannot find it. The administrator has verified that the library file exists and is readable. Which of the following is the most likely cause and solution?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The library path is not in /etc/ld.so.conf; run ldconfig after adding it.
The dynamic linker/loader (ld.so) uses the cache file /etc/ld.so.cache to resolve shared library dependencies at runtime. Although the library exists in /usr/local/lib, that path is not listed in /etc/ld.so.conf (or a file included by it), so the linker never scans it. Running ldconfig rebuilds the cache and makes the library discoverable, which resolves the 'cannot open shared object file' error.
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.
✗
The library has insufficient execute permissions; add execute bit.
Why it's wrong here
Libraries require read permission, not execute, to be used by the dynamic linker.
✗
The application is setuid root and the library path is ignored; use $LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
Why it's wrong here
Setuid binaries ignore LD_LIBRARY_PATH for security reasons, so that would not work.
✓
The library path is not in /etc/ld.so.conf; run ldconfig after adding it.
Why this is correct
ldconfig updates the linker cache to include paths from /etc/ld.so.conf.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The library is compiled for a different architecture; recompile the library.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the error typically mentions architecture mismatch; the given error is about not finding the shared object.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a library found in a standard-looking path like /usr/local/lib is automatically searched, but the dynamic linker only uses paths explicitly listed in /etc/ld.so.conf (or its included files) after running ldconfig.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The dynamic linker (ld-linux.so) resolves library names using a search order: LD_LIBRARY_PATH, then the cache in /etc/ld.so.cache (built from /etc/ld.so.conf), then default paths like /lib and /usr/lib. The ldconfig command not only updates the cache but also creates necessary symbolic links (soname links). In real-world scenarios, a library may be present but not in the cache because the system administrator added it manually without running ldconfig, or the path was omitted from the configuration.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
GNU and Unix Commands — This question tests GNU and Unix Commands — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The library path is not in /etc/ld.so.conf; run ldconfig after adding it. — The dynamic linker/loader (ld.so) uses the cache file /etc/ld.so.cache to resolve shared library dependencies at runtime. Although the library exists in /usr/local/lib, that path is not listed in /etc/ld.so.conf (or a file included by it), so the linker never scans it. Running ldconfig rebuilds the cache and makes the library discoverable, which resolves the 'cannot open shared object file' error.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-1 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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