LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
A system administrator is troubleshooting a server that takes a long time to boot. The administrator wants to identify which systemd units are slowing down the boot process. Which TWO of the following commands can be used to analyze boot performance? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse error diagnosis tools with performance analysis tools, assuming that checking logs or failed units will reveal slow boot causes.
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
✓
systemd-analyze critical-chain
The systemd-analyze suite provides dedicated subcommands for boot performance. blame ranks units by initialization time, and critical-chain shows the dependency tree that determines total boot time. These tools directly measure and display timing data, unlike log inspection or unit state listing, which focus on errors or failures rather than duration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
systemd-analyze critical-chain
Why this is correct
systemd-analyze critical-chain displays a tree of units that are on the critical path to reaching the default target, highlighting dependencies that delay boot. It shows the time spent waiting for each unit in the chain, helping pinpoint bottlenecks in the boot sequence.
- ✗
systemctl list-units --state=failed
Why it's wrong here
This command lists failed units, which may indicate problems but does not provide timing information about boot performance. A failed unit could cause delays, but the command itself does not show how long units took or which are on the critical path.
- ✗
journalctl -b -p err
Why it's wrong here
journalctl -b -p err shows error-priority messages from the current boot, which can indicate failures but does not measure timing or identify slow units. It is useful for diagnosing what went wrong, but not for analyzing boot performance or duration.
- ✓
systemd-analyze blame
Why this is correct
systemd-analyze blame lists each unit's initialization time in descending order, showing which services took the longest to start. This directly identifies units that contribute to slow boot. It is a primary tool for boot performance analysis on systemd-based distributions.
- ✗
dmesg | grep -i 'time'
Why it's wrong here
dmesg shows kernel ring buffer messages, and grepping for 'time' may show timestamp-related kernel messages, but it does not provide systemd unit timing or boot performance analysis. Kernel messages are not organized by unit and do not measure service startup durations.
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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.