LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
An administrator runs 'lsmod' and sees a module with a usage count of 1. What does this indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse the usage count with the number of dependent modules or think it counts processes that have loaded the module, when in fact it counts active references (e.g., open file handles, mounted filesystems, or kernel subsystems) that prevent the module from being unloaded.
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
✓
One process is holding a reference to the module
The usage count in lsmod indicates how many processes or kernel subsystems currently hold a reference to the module. A count of 1 means exactly one process has opened the module (e.g., via a file descriptor or ioctl) or the module is in use by a single kernel component. This is the standard interpretation per the Linux kernel module loader (kmod) and is reflected in the /proc/modules 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.
- ✗
The module is loaded but not used by any process
Why it's wrong here
A usage count of 1 means something is using it.
- ✗
The module is being used by one other module
Why it's wrong here
Could be a process, not necessarily another module.
- ✓
One process is holding a reference to the module
Why this is correct
The usage count indicates the number of active references.
- ✗
The module has one dependency
Why it's wrong here
Dependencies are listed in the Used by column but not indicated by usage count.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This LPIC-1 question is part of Courseiva's 527-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.