LPIC-1 Essential System Services and Networking Practice Question
A Linux server uses systemd-resolved for DNS resolution. Users report that hostname resolution fails intermittently. The administrator inspects /etc/resolv.conf and finds it is a symlink to /run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf with nameserver 127.0.0.53. Which command should the administrator use to verify the current DNS servers and resolution status?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is relying on /etc/resolv.conf to see DNS servers, but with systemd-resolved it only contains the stub address, not the actual upstream servers.
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
✓
resolvectl status
The resolvectl status command provides detailed information about the current DNS servers and resolution configuration for all interfaces. This is essential for diagnosing intermittent resolution failures, as it reveals if multiple interfaces are providing conflicting DNS servers or if fallback DNS is misconfigured.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
cat /etc/resolv.conf
Why it's wrong here
The file /etc/resolv.conf is a symlink to the stub resolver at 127.0.0.53, so it only shows the local stub address, not the actual upstream DNS servers. This does not provide the real DNS server information needed for troubleshooting.
- ✓
resolvectl status
Why this is correct
resolvectl status displays the current DNS servers, DNS domains, and other resolver configuration for each network interface. It shows which DNS servers are being used and can help diagnose intermittent resolution issues by revealing if multiple interfaces have conflicting DNS settings.
- ✗
systemctl status systemd-resolved
Why it's wrong here
This command shows the status of the systemd-resolved service, including whether it is running and recent log entries. However, it does not display the actual DNS servers or domain configurations that are in use, so it is insufficient for verifying DNS settings.
- ✗
dig @127.0.0.53 example.com
Why it's wrong here
While this tests resolution through the stub resolver, it does not show the configured DNS servers or interface-specific settings. It only verifies if a specific query succeeds, which might not reveal intermittent issues caused by misconfigured DNS servers.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every LPIC-1 question from scratch — 402 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.