LPIC-1 Essential System Services and Networking Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting network connectivity. The server's IP is 192.168.1.10/24, and the gateway is 192.168.1.1. The server can ping the gateway but cannot ping 8.8.8.8. Which command is most appropriate to check if the default route is configured?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume a successful ping to the gateway implies a default route exists, but the gateway being reachable does not mean the server has a route to forward traffic beyond the local subnet.
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
✓
route -n
The `route -n` command displays the kernel IP routing table without resolving hostnames, showing the default route (destination 0.0.0.0) and its gateway. Since the server can ping the gateway but not 8.8.8.8, the issue is likely a missing or incorrect default route, which `route -n` directly reveals.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
route -n
Why this is correct
The `route -n` command prints the kernel routing table numerically, revealing whether a default route (destination 0.0.0.0) exists via gateway 192.168.1.1. Since the server reaches its local subnet but not 8.8.8.8, a missing default route is the likely fault, and this command directly confirms it.
- ✗
ifconfig eth0
Why it's wrong here
ifconfig displays interface addressing, netmask and counters, but no routing information, so it cannot confirm a default gateway exists. It is tempting because the host has a valid 192.168.1.10/24 address, yet local connectivity already works; the missing piece is the route to remote networks.
- ✗
ping 192.168.1.1
Why it's wrong here
Pinging the gateway only re-tests local reachability, which the scenario already confirms succeeds, and returns no routing-table data. It is tempting as a quick connectivity check, but the fault lies beyond the gateway; the routing table must be inspected to confirm a default route exists.
- ✗
arp -n
Why it's wrong here
ARP maps IPv4 addresses to MAC addresses on the local segment, so it only reveals layer-2 neighbours, not routing entries. It is tempting because the gateway pings successfully, suggesting name or neighbour resolution, but the failing target is remote; the routing table, not the ARP cache, holds the default route.
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JA
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.