LPIC-1 Essential System Services and Networking Practice Question
A Linux administrator needs to check the current status of the systemd service named sshd, including whether it is active and its recent log entries. Which command should she run?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse journalctl -u sshd with systemctl status sshd; only the latter shows both the current state and recent logs together.
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
✓
systemctl status sshd
The systemctl status command provides a concise overview of a unit's state, including whether it is active, the main PID, and recent journal entries. It is the standard systemd tool for checking both status and recent logs, making it the most complete and appropriate choice for the administrator's needs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
journalctl -u sshd
Why it's wrong here
This command shows the journal logs for the sshd unit, but it does not display the current active/inactive status or the main PID. It is useful for log analysis but insufficient when the administrator needs a quick status check and recent logs together.
- ✗
service sshd status
Why it's wrong here
On a systemd-based system, this command is typically redirected to systemctl, but it may not show recent log entries and is not the native systemd method. It can produce different output or fail on distributions that have removed the legacy service wrapper. It is not the best answer for a systemd environment.
- ✗
systemctl is-active sshd
Why it's wrong here
This only prints whether the service is active, inactive, or failed. It provides no log information and no additional status details such as the main PID or recent events. It is too narrow to satisfy the full requirement of checking status and recent log entries.
- ✓
systemctl status sshd
Why this is correct
This command displays the current state (active/inactive), the main PID, and the most recent log lines for the sshd service. It directly answers the requirement to check status and recent logs in a single step, making it the correct and efficient choice.
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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.