LPIC-1 GNU and Unix Commands Practice Question
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator needs to edit /etc/example.conf to change setting1 to 'production' and add a new line 'setting2=value' after the include line. The file must be edited in place without creating a backup. Which command sequence achieves this?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the 'a' (append) and 'i' (insert) sed commands, or overlook the requirement to avoid backups by choosing options with -i.bak instead of plain -i.
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
✓
sed -i 's/setting1=default/setting1=production/' /etc/example.conf; sed -i '/^include /a\nsetting2=value' /etc/example.conf
The first sed command uses the -i flag to edit the file in place without a backup, and the substitution 's/setting1=default/setting1=production/' changes the existing setting. The second sed command uses the 'a' (append) command after the line matching '^include ' to add the new line 'setting2=value' after it, also with -i to avoid creating a backup.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
sed -i 's/setting1=default/setting1=production/' /etc/example.conf; sed -i '/^include /a\nsetting2=value' /etc/example.conf
Why this is correct
Correct: -i without argument edits in place; first command changes the setting; second appends after the include line.
- ✗
sed -i 's/setting1=default/setting1=production/' /etc/example.conf; sed -i '/^include /i\nsetting2=value' /etc/example.conf
Why it's wrong here
Second command uses i (insert before) instead of a (append after), so setting2 would be inserted before the include line, not after.
- ✗
sed -i.bak 's/setting1=default/setting1=production/' /etc/example.conf; sed -i.bak '/^include /a\nsetting2=value' /etc/example.conf
Why it's wrong here
Same as A, creates backup.
- ✗
sed -i.bak 's/setting1=default/setting1=production/' /etc/example.conf; sed -i.bak '/^include /a\nsetting2=value' /etc/example.conf
Why it's wrong here
Creates backups, not without backup.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 527 original LPIC-1 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. 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.