Quick Answer
The correct answer is to configure logrotate to rotate and compress logs daily. This is the standard Linux utility for managing log file growth, as it automatically archives old logs like /var/log/syslog into compressed files such as syslog.1.gz, keeping only recent entries in the active file and preventing disk space exhaustion on /var without losing historical data. On the LPIC-1 exam, this question tests your understanding of system administration tasks related to log management and disk space monitoring, often appearing in scenarios where /var fills up due to unchecked log accumulation. A common trap is to manually delete logs or disable logging entirely, which violates the requirement to keep recent logs; instead, logrotate’s rotation and compression offer a sustainable, automated solution. Remember the mnemonic “Rotate and Compress to Decompress Disk Stress” to recall that logrotate prevents disk issues while preserving log history.
This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A system is running out of disk space on /var. The administrator finds that /var/log/syslog is 4GB. Which of the following is the best course of action to prevent future issues while keeping recent logs?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Use 'truncate -s 0 /var/log/syslog' to empty the file.
Why wrong: This is a temporary fix, doesn't prevent future growth.
Configure logrotate to rotate and compress logs daily.
Correct: logrotate manages log sizes.
Configure syslog to stop logging.
Why wrong: Not recommended; logs are important.
Delete /var/log/syslog and create an empty file.
Why wrong: Deletes all logs, not a good practice.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Configure logrotate to rotate and compress logs daily.
Option B is correct because logrotate is the standard Linux utility for managing log file growth. By configuring it to rotate and compress logs daily, the administrator can automatically archive old logs (e.g., /var/log/syslog.1.gz) and keep only recent entries in the active file, preventing disk space exhaustion without losing historical data.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Use 'truncate -s 0 /var/log/syslog' to empty the file.
Why it's wrong here
This is a temporary fix, doesn't prevent future growth.
Configure logrotate to rotate and compress logs daily.
Why this is correct
Correct: logrotate manages log sizes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Configure syslog to stop logging.
Why it's wrong here
Not recommended; logs are important.
Delete /var/log/syslog and create an empty file.
Why it's wrong here
Deletes all logs, not a good practice.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse immediate space recovery (truncation/deletion) with sustainable log management, overlooking that logrotate provides automated, policy-driven rotation and compression to prevent recurrence.
Detailed technical explanation
Logrotate works by renaming the current log file (e.g., syslog becomes syslog.1) and signaling syslog via SIGHUP to start writing to a new empty file. Compression (e.g., with gzip) reduces disk usage significantly; for a 4GB syslog, daily rotation with compression could keep weeks of history in under 1GB. The configuration file /etc/logrotate.conf and per-service files in /etc/logrotate.d allow fine-grained control over rotation frequency, retention count, and post-rotation scripts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LPIC-1 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Devices, Filesystems and FHS — This question tests Devices, Filesystems and FHS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Configure logrotate to rotate and compress logs daily. — Option B is correct because logrotate is the standard Linux utility for managing log file growth. By configuring it to rotate and compress logs daily, the administrator can automatically archive old logs (e.g., /var/log/syslog.1.gz) and keep only recent entries in the active file, preventing disk space exhaustion without losing historical data.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. The system administrator sees that /var/log is 93% full and the syslog file is nearly 2 GB. What is the most appropriate immediate action to free up disk space without losing any critical log data?
easyWhy A: Option A is correct because 'logrotate -f' forces an immediate rotation of all log files as defined in /etc/logrotate.conf, which compresses or archives the current syslog file (e.g., syslog becomes syslog.1) and creates a fresh empty log file. This frees disk space without deleting any data, as the rotated logs remain on disk until the configured retention policy removes them. It is the standard, safe immediate action for a nearly full /var/log partition.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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