LPIC-1 Linux Installation and Package Management Practice Question
A user downloaded a Debian package file named 'software.deb'. Which command should be used to install it?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse `apt`/`apt-get` (which manage packages from repositories) with `dpkg` (which handles local `.deb` files), leading them to incorrectly assume `apt install` can accept a filename directly.
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
✓
dpkg -i software.deb
The correct command is `dpkg -i software.deb` because `dpkg` is the low-level package manager for Debian-based systems that directly installs `.deb` files. The `-i` flag tells `dpkg` to install the specified package file from the local filesystem, which is exactly what is needed when you have a downloaded `.deb` file.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
rpm -ivh software.deb
Why it's wrong here
rpm is for .rpm packages, not .deb.
- ✗
apt install software.deb
Why it's wrong here
apt install expects a package name resolved from repositories, not a local file path; it cannot install software.deb directly. apt is tempting because it handles dependencies, but for a downloaded .deb the correct tool is dpkg -i, optionally followed by apt install -f.
- ✗
apt-get install software.deb
Why it's wrong here
apt-get install resolves package names from configured repositories; it does not accept a local .deb filename as an argument, so the command errors. It is tempting because apt-get is the correct tool for installing Debian packages by name from a repository.
- ✓
dpkg -i software.deb
Why this is correct
dpkg -i installs a local .deb archive and runs its maintainer scripts, operating directly on the downloaded file. The stem specifies a local Debian package, so dpkg is the correct low-level installer rather than apt, which resolves repositories.
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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.