LPIC-1 Administrative Tasks Practice Question
A system administrator wants to ensure that the syslog service starts automatically on boot and is running immediately without a reboot. Which command sequence should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often think they need to use two separate commands (enable and start) in a specific order, but the `--now` flag is a single-command shortcut that systemd provides, and LPI often tests this to see if you know the combined option exists.
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 enable --now syslog
`systemctl enable --now syslog` combines enabling the service to start automatically on boot and starting it immediately in a single command. The `--now` flag triggers an immediate start after enabling, fulfilling both requirements without needing a reboot.
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 start syslog && systemctl enable syslog
Why it's wrong here
This sequence starts the service first, then enables it, which works but does not match the conventional ordering; more importantly, on systemd units the unit name is typically syslog.service or rsyslog.service, and enabling before starting avoids a race. It suits any service needing immediate start plus boot persistence.
- ✗
systemctl start --enable syslog
Why it's wrong here
systemctl takes --enable as a modifier only with enable, not start; start --enable is rejected as an unknown option, so nothing runs. It tempts because combining both actions in one invocation looks efficient, yet the valid form is systemctl enable --now syslog, which enables and starts together.
- ✗
systemctl enable syslog && systemctl start syslog
Why it's wrong here
This sequence actually satisfies the scenario: enable creates the boot-time symlinks and start launches the unit now. It is listed as incorrect only if the exam expects the single-command form systemctl enable --now syslog, which performs both operations atomically rather than as two chained invocations.
- ✓
systemctl enable --now syslog
Why this is correct
`systemctl enable --now syslog` satisfies both constraints in one invocation: `enable` creates the persistent symlink so the unit starts at every boot, while `--now` additionally starts it immediately in the current session, avoiding the reboot the stem forbids.
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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.