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
While 'apt install ./software.deb' works in some versions, it is not the standard way; dpkg is more direct and universally correct for local .deb files.
- ✗
apt-get install software.deb
Why it's wrong here
apt-get expects package names from repositories, not file paths.
- ✓
dpkg -i software.deb
Why this is correct
dpkg -i installs a .deb package locally.
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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.