- A
The private network interface (eth1) is misconfigured, causing traffic to be routed incorrectly.
Why wrong: Private interface configuration seems correct for internal network.
- B
The DNS servers are not reachable, causing delays in name resolution.
Why wrong: DNS servers are reachable via default route, but intermittent timeouts are more likely due to network congestion on the public interface.
- C
The public network interface (eth0) is experiencing high latency or packet loss due to ISP issues.
Intermittent connectivity issues are often caused by problems with the external link.
- D
The MySQL server is listening on localhost, but should listen on the private IP for better performance.
Why wrong: MySQL on localhost is fine; not related to intermittent connectivity.
Quick Answer
The answer is the public network interface (eth0) experiencing high latency or packet loss due to ISP issues. This is the most likely cause because the routing table shows the only default gateway is via eth0, meaning all external traffic—including DNS queries to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4—must traverse that interface; any degradation on eth0 will directly produce the intermittent connectivity and slow web pages symptoms described. On the LPIC-1 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how routing tables and interface metrics affect network troubleshooting, often hiding the real issue behind misconfigured DNS or multiple NICs. A common trap is to blame the private interface (eth1) or MySQL’s loopback binding, but since the web application relies on external resources, the bottleneck is almost always the public path. Memory tip: “One default, one problem”—if only one interface has a gateway, that’s your single point of failure for internet-bound traffic.
LPIC-1 Essential System Services and Networking Practice Question
This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of essential system services and networking. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A company runs a critical web application on a Linux server (Ubuntu 20.04) with Apache and MySQL. The server has two network interfaces: eth0 (public IP) and eth1 (private IP). Recently, the application has been experiencing intermittent connectivity issues. Users report that the web page sometimes loads slowly or times out. The administrator checks the network configuration and finds the following: eth0 is configured with a static IP 203.0.113.10/24, gateway 203.0.113.1; eth1 is configured with a static IP 10.0.0.10/24, no gateway. The administrator runs 'ip route show' and sees: default via 203.0.113.1 dev eth0, 10.0.0.0/24 dev eth1 proto kernel scope link src 10.0.0.10 metric 100. The administrator also notices that the system's /etc/resolv.conf contains nameserver 8.8.8.8 and nameserver 8.8.4.4. The MySQL server is configured to listen on 127.0.0.1. What is the most likely cause of the intermittent connectivity issues?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The public network interface (eth0) is experiencing high latency or packet loss due to ISP issues.
Option C is correct because the intermittent connectivity issues described (slow page loads and timeouts) are classic symptoms of high latency or packet loss on the public network path. The routing table shows a default gateway via eth0 (203.0.113.1), which is the only path to the internet, and the DNS servers (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) are external, so any degradation on eth0 would directly impact web application responsiveness. The administrator's observation that eth0 is configured with a static IP and gateway, combined with no alternative route, points to ISP-level issues as the most likely cause.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 private network interface (eth1) is misconfigured, causing traffic to be routed incorrectly.
Why it's wrong here
Private interface configuration seems correct for internal network.
- ✗
The DNS servers are not reachable, causing delays in name resolution.
Why it's wrong here
DNS servers are reachable via default route, but intermittent timeouts are more likely due to network congestion on the public interface.
- ✓
The public network interface (eth0) is experiencing high latency or packet loss due to ISP issues.
Why this is correct
Intermittent connectivity issues are often caused by problems with the external link.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The MySQL server is listening on localhost, but should listen on the private IP for better performance.
Why it's wrong here
MySQL on localhost is fine; not related to intermittent connectivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may incorrectly attribute the issue to DNS misconfiguration or interface misrouting, overlooking that the default route via eth0 makes the public interface the single point of failure for internet-bound traffic, and that intermittent symptoms point to network path degradation rather than configuration errors.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Intermittent connectivity issues often stem from network layer problems such as packet loss or jitter on the upstream link, which can be diagnosed using tools like `ping -c 100 -i 0.2 <gateway>` to measure loss percentage, or `mtr` to trace the path to an external host. The routing table's default route via eth0 ensures all outbound internet traffic uses that interface, so any degradation on the ISP link directly affects HTTP requests and DNS queries, leading to timeouts. Real-world scenarios include saturated bandwidth, faulty cables, or ISP routing issues that cause sporadic packet drops, which are not reflected in static configuration files.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Essential System Services and Networking — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this LPIC-1 question test?
Essential System Services and Networking — This question tests Essential System Services and Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The public network interface (eth0) is experiencing high latency or packet loss due to ISP issues. — Option C is correct because the intermittent connectivity issues described (slow page loads and timeouts) are classic symptoms of high latency or packet loss on the public network path. The routing table shows a default gateway via eth0 (203.0.113.1), which is the only path to the internet, and the DNS servers (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) are external, so any degradation on eth0 would directly impact web application responsiveness. The administrator's observation that eth0 is configured with a static IP and gateway, combined with no alternative route, points to ISP-level issues as the most likely cause.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-1 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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