This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of linux installation and package management. 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 wants to remove a package 'apache2' but keep its configuration files on the system. Which command should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
`dpkg --purge apache2`
Why wrong: Purge removes configuration files.
`apt-get purge apache2`
Why wrong: Purge removes configuration files as well.
`apt-get autoremove apache2`
Why wrong: Autoremove removes automatically installed dependencies, not the specified package.
`apt-get remove apache2`
Removes the package but keeps configuration files.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
`apt-get remove apache2`
Option D is correct because `apt-get remove apache2` removes the package binaries but leaves the configuration files (under /etc/apache2/) intact. This is the standard behavior of the `remove` subcommand in APT and dpkg, allowing the administrator to reinstall the package later with the same settings.
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.
`dpkg --purge apache2`
Why it's wrong here
Purge removes configuration files.
`apt-get purge apache2`
Why it's wrong here
Purge removes configuration files as well.
`apt-get autoremove apache2`
Why it's wrong here
Autoremove removes automatically installed dependencies, not the specified package.
`apt-get remove apache2`
Why this is correct
Removes the package but keeps configuration files.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `purge` (which removes configs) with `remove` (which keeps configs), or mistakenly think `autoremove` can target a specific package, when it only cleans orphaned dependencies.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `apt-get remove` calls `dpkg --remove`, which deletes files listed in the package's file manifest except those marked as conffiles (configuration files). The conffiles are preserved in /etc/ so that local modifications are not lost. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for services like Apache where custom virtual host configs or SSL certificates are stored in /etc/apache2/ and must survive a package removal for later reinstallation.
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
Linux Installation and Package Management — This question tests Linux Installation and Package Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: `apt-get remove apache2` — Option D is correct because `apt-get remove apache2` removes the package binaries but leaves the configuration files (under /etc/apache2/) intact. This is the standard behavior of the `remove` subcommand in APT and dpkg, allowing the administrator to reinstall the package later with the same settings.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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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