LPIC-1 Linux Installation and Package Management Practice Question
A system administrator needs to install a new kernel on a Debian-based system. Which TWO commands can be used to achieve this? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse package management commands (like `apt-cache search` or `apt-get update`) with installation commands, or assume that `make install` is a valid method for installing a precompiled kernel package.
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
✓
apt-get install linux-image-5.10.0-20-amd64
Option C is correct because apt-get install linux-image-5.10.0-20-amd64 uses APT to resolve dependencies and install the specified kernel package from the configured Debian repositories, which is the standard way to install a new kernel on a Debian-based system. Option E is correct because dpkg -i linux-image-5.10.0-20-amd64.deb installs a locally downloaded kernel .deb package directly, which is a valid method when the package file is already present on the system. Option A is incorrect because apt-cache search only queries the package cache for available packages and does not install anything. Option B is incorrect because apt-get update merely refreshes the package index metadata from repositories and does not install a kernel. Option D is incorrect because make install is used to install software compiled from source, not to install a prebuilt Debian kernel package.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
apt-cache search linux-image-5.10.0-20-amd64
Why it's wrong here
apt-cache search queries package metadata and installs nothing, so it cannot place a kernel on the system. It is tempting because it is a genuine apt subcommand for locating linux-image packages, which would be the right step when you need to discover the exact package name before installing.
- ✗
apt-get update
Why it's wrong here
apt-get update only refreshes the package index metadata from repositories; it installs nothing and never touches kernel packages. It is tempting because it is the routine first step before any apt-get install, and would be correct as preparation before running apt-get install linux-image-<version> to fetch the new kernel.
- ✓
apt-get install linux-image-5.10.0-20-amd64
Why this is correct
apt-get install linux-image-5.10.0-20-amd64 pulls the prebuilt kernel image package from Debian repositories, installing the kernel and triggering initramfs and bootloader updates. This is the standard package-manager method for adding a new kernel on Debian-based systems.
- ✗
make install
Why it's wrong here
Running make install copies the compiled kernel image and modules into /boot and /lib/modules, but it does not build the kernel from source, so it cannot be the first step. It is tempting because it is the final installation stage of a manual kernel build, and would be correct after make and make modules_install have produced the binaries.
- ✓
dpkg -i linux-image-5.10.0-20-amd64.deb
Why this is correct
On Debian-based systems, dpkg installs a local .deb package directly, so passing the linux-image package file installs the new kernel and triggers the postinst scripts that update the bootloader. This satisfies the requirement to install a downloaded kernel package without relying on APT repositories.
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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.