LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
A Linux server uses a systemd-based init and has several custom services. The administrator wants to inspect the runtime state and configuration of a unit named backup.service without starting or stopping it. Which TWO commands provide information about this unit? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is treating systemctl enable as an inspection command, when it only creates boot-time symlinks and shows nothing about the unit's current runtime state.
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 backup.service
Inspecting a systemd unit without altering it calls for read-only commands. systemctl status shows the unit's active state, recent journal entries, and loaded properties, while systemctl cat prints the unit file and any drop-ins that define its effective configuration. Commands such as start, restart, and enable change state or configuration and therefore do not meet the requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
systemctl enable backup.service
Why it's wrong here
systemctl enable backup.service creates symlinks so the unit starts at boot; it does not display the unit's current state or configuration. It also modifies system configuration, which goes beyond inspection. It fails to provide the runtime and configuration details the administrator is seeking without making changes.
- ✗
systemctl restart backup.service
Why it's wrong here
systemctl restart backup.service stops and then starts the unit, which alters its state and may interrupt or duplicate a running backup. Since the administrator must not start or stop the service, this command is inappropriate. It is an action command, not a read-only inspection tool.
- ✓
systemctl status backup.service
Why this is correct
systemctl status backup.service shows the unit's current active state, recent log lines, and key properties such as loaded and enabled status. It is a read-only inspection command that does not start or stop the service, so it directly satisfies the requirement to examine the unit's runtime state and configuration.
- ✗
systemctl start backup.service
Why it's wrong here
systemctl start backup.service activates the unit, which changes its runtime state. The task explicitly requires inspecting the unit without starting or stopping it, so this command violates the constraint and may trigger an unintended backup job. It is therefore not an acceptable way to gather information in this scenario.
- ✓
systemctl cat backup.service
Why this is correct
systemctl cat backup.service prints the unit file contents, including any drop-in overrides, without changing the unit's state. This reveals the effective configuration for the service, which is exactly what the administrator needs to inspect. It does not start, stop, or restart the unit, making it safe for read-only examination.
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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.