LPIC-1 Administrative Tasks Practice Question
A user can successfully ping a web server but cannot access the website via a browser. Which is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers assume a successful ping implies full application-layer functionality, but LPIC-1 tests the understanding that ICMP and TCP are separate protocols, and a web service must be explicitly running to serve HTTP content.
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
✓
Web service (e.g., Apache) not running
B is correct because the user can successfully ping the web server, confirming that the server is reachable at the network layer (ICMP). However, the inability to access the website via a browser indicates that the application layer service handling HTTP/HTTPS requests is not running. If the web service (e.g., Apache, Nginx) is stopped or crashed, the server will not respond to TCP port 80 or 443, even though basic connectivity exists.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Incorrect subnet mask
Why it's wrong here
An incorrect subnet mask would affect all communication, including ping.
- ✓
Web service (e.g., Apache) not running
Why this is correct
If the web service is down, ping will still work because the network layer is functional, but HTTP requests will fail.
- ✗
Firewall blocking HTTP ports
Why it's wrong here
A firewall blocking HTTP would likely also block ICMP if configured restrictively; but ping works, so firewall is less likely.
- ✗
DNS resolution failure
Why it's wrong here
If DNS were failing, the user would not be able to resolve the hostname; ping may have used an IP address.
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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.