This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of system architecture. 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 technician needs to output only the kernel release number. Which command should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
cat /proc/version
Why wrong: cat /proc/version includes the full version string, not just the release number.
uname -r
uname -r outputs the exact kernel release number.
dmesg | head -1
Why wrong: dmesg shows kernel ring buffer, first line often includes kernel version but not guaranteed to be only the release number.
lsmod
Why wrong: lsmod lists loaded kernel modules, not the kernel version.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
uname -r
The `uname -r` command specifically prints the kernel release number (e.g., '5.10.0-28-amd64') by querying the `utsname` system call. This is the standard, portable way to retrieve only the kernel release string without additional system information.
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.
cat /proc/version
Why it's wrong here
cat /proc/version includes the full version string, not just the release number.
uname -r
Why this is correct
uname -r outputs the exact kernel release number.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
dmesg | head -1
Why it's wrong here
dmesg shows kernel ring buffer, first line often includes kernel version but not guaranteed to be only the release number.
lsmod
Why it's wrong here
lsmod lists loaded kernel modules, not the kernel version.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse `/proc/version` (which shows the full version string) with a command that outputs only the release number, or they assume `dmesg` output is consistent across all systems.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
dmesg shows kernel ring buffer, first line often includes kernel version but not guaranteed to be only the release number.
Detailed technical explanation
The `uname` command retrieves system information from the `sys_utsname` structure via the `uname()` system call, defined in POSIX.1-2001. The `-r` flag extracts the `release` field, which follows the Linux kernel versioning scheme (major.minor.patch[-extraversion]). In scripting, `uname -r` is preferred over parsing `/proc/version` because it is more reliable and avoids locale-dependent output.
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
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FAQ
System Architecture — This question tests System Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: uname -r — The `uname -r` command specifically prints the kernel release number (e.g., '5.10.0-28-amd64') by querying the `utsname` system call. This is the standard, portable way to retrieve only the kernel release string without additional system information.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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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