LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
A Linux administrator is troubleshooting a server that intermittently fails to detect a newly installed network card. The administrator suspects the kernel is not loading the correct driver automatically. Which TWO commands should be used to identify the PCI device and then load the appropriate kernel module manually? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is reaching for interface-level tools like ifconfig or unrelated buses like USB when the root problem is a PCI device whose kernel driver has not been loaded.
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
✓
lspci -nn
To resolve an undetected PCI network card, the administrator must first identify the device with lspci -nn to obtain numeric vendor and device IDs, then load the matching driver with modprobe. This sequence confirms the hardware presence and activates the correct kernel module, after which the interface should appear. USB inspection, interface listing, and module removal do not address a missing PCI driver.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
lspci -nn
Why this is correct
lspci -nn lists PCI devices with numeric vendor and device IDs, which are essential for identifying an unrecognized network card. The numeric IDs can be matched against driver aliases or the pci.ids database to determine the correct module. This is the first step before loading a driver manually.
- ✗
rmmod
Why it's wrong here
rmmod removes a module from the running kernel. It is the opposite of what is needed when a driver is missing, and it cannot identify PCI hardware or load a module. Using it here would not help detect or enable the network card and could disrupt other working drivers if misused.
- ✗
ifconfig -a
Why it's wrong here
ifconfig -a displays all network interfaces, including those that are down, but it does not identify PCI devices or load kernel modules. If the driver is missing, the interface may not appear at all, so this command cannot reveal the underlying hardware. It also does not provide vendor or device IDs.
- ✗
lsusb -v
Why it's wrong here
lsusb -v provides detailed information about USB devices, not PCI devices. A network card installed in a PCIe slot will not appear in lsusb output, so this command cannot identify the hardware or its driver. It is useful for USB peripherals but irrelevant to the described PCI network card.
- ✓
modprobe
Why this is correct
modprobe loads a kernel module along with any dependencies, using the module name or an alias. Once the PCI device is identified, modprobe inserts the correct driver into the running kernel. If the module is not already present, it may need to be installed first, but modprobe is the standard tool for manual loading.
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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 LPI exam blueprint
This LPIC-1 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 LPIC-1 exam.