LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
A small office server running Ubuntu 20.04 experiences a gradual time drift. The system clock loses about 2 minutes per week. The hardware clock (RTC) is maintained by the motherboard battery and appears accurate when checked manually. The sysadmin wants to ensure the system clock stays synchronized automatically. Which single action should be taken? Options: A) Run 'timedatectl set-ntp true' to enable systemd-timesyncd, B) Add 'hwclock --hctosys' to /etc/rc.local, C) Install and configure the ntp package with a pool server, D) Use 'cron' to run ntpdate every minute.
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume the full ntp package is always required for time synchronization, overlooking that systemd-timesyncd is the default and sufficient for basic NTP sync on modern Ubuntu systems.
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
✓
Run 'timedatectl set-ntp true' to enable systemd-timesyncd
On Ubuntu 20.04, systemd-timesyncd is the default NTP client. Running 'timedatectl set-ntp true' (option A) activates it, which automatically synchronizes the system clock with NTP servers, correcting the gradual drift without needing additional packages or manual cron jobs. This is the simplest and most appropriate single action for automatic time sync on a modern systemd-based distribution.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Run 'timedatectl set-ntp true' to enable systemd-timesyncd
Why this is correct
On Ubuntu 20.04, systemd-timesyncd is the default NTP client. Running 'timedatectl set-ntp true' activates it, which automatically synchronizes the system clock with NTP servers, correcting the gradual drift without needing additional packages or manual cron jobs. This is the simplest and most appropriate single action for automatic time sync on a modern systemd-based distribution.
- ✗
Add 'hwclock --hctosys' to /etc/rc.local
Why it's wrong here
hwclock --hctosys copies the RTC into the system clock only once at boot, so drift accumulated during uptime is never corrected. It is tempting because the RTC is accurate and the command is simple. Continuous discipline requires a daemon polling NTP servers, which systemd-timesyncd provides on Ubuntu 20.04.
- ✗
Install and configure the ntp package with a pool server
Why it's wrong here
Installing the full ntp daemon works technically but duplicates the time synchronisation already provided by systemd-timesyncd on Ubuntu 20.04, requiring extra packages and configuration. It is tempting because ntp is the traditional, well-documented answer. The stem asks for a single action, and enabling the existing service with timedatectl set-ntp true achieves it.
- ✗
Use 'cron' to run ntpdate every minute
Why it's wrong here
ntpdate is deprecated and exits immediately after each step, so cron cannot discipline the clock continuously; running it every minute also causes repeated large jumps and conflicts with any running daemon. It is tempting as a simple scheduled fix. Continuous synchronisation requires a daemon such as systemd-timesyncd, which the stem's Ubuntu 20.04 provides.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.