This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of gnu and unix commands. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. 30 4 1 * * /usr/bin/backup
Refer to the exhibit. When will the backup script run?
Refer to the exhibit. 30 4 1 * * /usr/bin/backup
Daily at 4:30 AM
Why wrong: Daily would have '*' in the day-of-month field.
Monthly at 4:30 AM on the 1st
The '1' in the day-of-month field indicates the first day of each month.
Yearly at 4:30 AM
Why wrong: Yearly would require a specific month as well.
Weekly at 4:30 AM
Why wrong: Weekly uses day-of-week field, not day-of-month.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Monthly at 4:30 AM on the 1st
The cron entry `30 4 1 * * /usr/local/bin/backup.sh` specifies that the script runs when the minute is 30, hour is 4, and day-of-month is 1, with the month and day-of-week fields set to `*` (meaning every month and every day of the week). This results in execution at 4:30 AM on the 1st day of every month, making option B correct.
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.
Daily at 4:30 AM
Why it's wrong here
Daily would have '*' in the day-of-month field.
Monthly at 4:30 AM on the 1st
Why this is correct
The '1' in the day-of-month field indicates the first day of each month.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Yearly at 4:30 AM
Why it's wrong here
Yearly would require a specific month as well.
Weekly at 4:30 AM
Why it's wrong here
Weekly uses day-of-week field, not day-of-month.
Common exam traps
LPI often tests the misconception that a `*` in the day-of-week field implies 'every day' but candidates forget that the day-of-month field of `1` restricts execution to only the 1st, not daily.
Detailed technical explanation
The cron daemon interprets the five time-and-date fields as minute (0-59), hour (0-23), day-of-month (1-31), month (1-12 or names), and day-of-week (0-7, where 0 and 7 represent Sunday). When both day-of-month and day-of-week are restricted (non-`*`), the job runs if either condition matches; however, here day-of-week is `*` (no restriction), so only the day-of-month condition applies. A common real-world scenario is scheduling monthly maintenance tasks like log rotation or system updates, where the 1st of the month is chosen to align with billing cycles or reporting periods.
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
GNU and Unix Commands — This question tests GNU and Unix Commands — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Monthly at 4:30 AM on the 1st — The cron entry `30 4 1 * * /usr/local/bin/backup.sh` specifies that the script runs when the minute is 30, hour is 4, and day-of-month is 1, with the month and day-of-week fields set to `*` (meaning every month and every day of the week). This results in execution at 4:30 AM on the 1st day of every month, making option B correct.
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 30, 2026
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