This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of administrative tasks. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An administrator needs to restart the SSH service after a configuration change. Which TWO commands can accomplish this on a systemd-based system?
initctl restart sshd
Why wrong: initctl is used with Upstart, not systemd.
rc.d restart sshd
Why wrong: rc.d is used on BSD systems, not typically on Linux.
systemctl restart sshd
The correct systemd command to restart a service.
service sshd restart
The 'service' command works as a wrapper for systemd on many distributions.
/etc/init.d/sshd restart
Why wrong: This is a SysV init script; may not be available on all systemd systems.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
systemctl restart sshd
On a systemd-based system, the correct command to restart the SSH service is `systemctl restart sshd`. This command communicates directly with systemd's service manager to stop and then start the sshd unit, ensuring proper state tracking and dependency handling.
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.
initctl restart sshd
Why it's wrong here
initctl is used with Upstart, not systemd.
rc.d restart sshd
Why it's wrong here
rc.d is used on BSD systems, not typically on Linux.
systemctl restart sshd
Why this is correct
The correct systemd command to restart a service.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
service sshd restart
Why this is correct
The 'service' command works as a wrapper for systemd on many distributions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/etc/init.d/sshd restart
Why it's wrong here
This is a SysV init script; may not be available on all systemd systems.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may assume the `service` command (Option D) is always correct on systemd systems, but while it often works via a compatibility wrapper, the official and reliable command for systemd is `systemctl`, and the question explicitly asks for commands that 'can accomplish this on a systemd-based system'—both C and D are technically valid, but D relies on a legacy compatibility layer that may not be present in minimal or hardened systemd installations.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `systemctl restart sshd` sends a D-Bus message to systemd's PID 1, which then executes the ExecStop and ExecStart commands defined in the sshd.service unit file. This ensures that any dependencies (e.g., network.target) are properly ordered and that the service state is recorded in the systemd journal. In contrast, SysV scripts or direct execution of the binary may not integrate with systemd's cgroup management or dependency resolution, leading to inconsistent behavior in complex environments.
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
Administrative Tasks — This question tests Administrative Tasks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: systemctl restart sshd — On a systemd-based system, the correct command to restart the SSH service is `systemctl restart sshd`. This command communicates directly with systemd's service manager to stop and then start the sshd unit, ensuring proper state tracking and dependency handling.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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