LPIC-1 Linux Installation and Package Management Practice Question
An administrator added a new APT repository to sources.list. Which command must be run to make the system aware of the packages from that repository?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse 'update' (refreshing package lists) with 'upgrade' (installing newer versions of installed packages), leading them to choose 'apt upgrade' or 'apt-get upgrade' thinking it will also fetch new repository data.
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
✓
apt update
After adding a new APT repository to sources.list, you must run 'apt update' (or 'apt-get update') to refresh the local package index from all configured repositories. This command downloads the latest package lists from the repository's Release and Packages files, making the system aware of available packages and their versions. Without this step, APT will not know about the new repository's packages, and subsequent install or upgrade commands will fail to find them.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
apt-get upgrade
Why it's wrong here
apt-get upgrade likewise only upgrades installed packages to versions in the existing index; it does not download the new repository's Packages files. It is correct for applying pending updates once metadata has already been synchronised.
- ✗
apt upgrade
Why it's wrong here
apt upgrade installs newer versions of packages already known to APT, but it never fetches repository metadata, so the new repository's package lists stay absent. It is the right command for applying available updates after the index has been refreshed.
- ✗
apt-cache search
Why it's wrong here
apt-cache search only queries the local package index for matching names or descriptions; it downloads no metadata, so packages from the new repository remain invisible. It is used to locate packages already known to APT, which presupposes the index has been refreshed.
- ✓
apt update
Why this is correct
`apt update` refreshes the local package index from all configured sources, including the newly added APT repository in sources.list. This satisfies the stem's requirement to make the system aware of the repository's available packages. Without this index refresh, `apt install` cannot see or resolve packages from that source.
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