LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
A system has multiple CPUs but only one is being used. Which file under /sys/ can be checked to verify CPU online status?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the summary file /sys/devices/system/cpu/online (which shows a range) with the per-CPU online file, or incorrectly assume /proc/cpuinfo is under /sys, leading them to choose Option A or B instead of the correct per-CPU path.
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
✓
/sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/online
/sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/online is the sysfs file that directly shows the online status of CPU 0. Reading this file returns '1' if the CPU is online and '0' if it is offline, allowing per-CPU verification. The question specifies checking a file under /sys/, and this path is the standard sysfs interface for CPU hotplug status.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
/sys/devices/system/cpu/online
Why it's wrong here
Shows a list of online CPUs, but not per-CPU file.
- ✗
/proc/cpuinfo
Why it's wrong here
Shows CPU information but not online status flag.
- ✗
/sys/class/cpu
Why it's wrong here
This path does not exist.
- ✓
/sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/online
Why this is correct
Contains a 1 if online, 0 if offline for CPU0.
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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.