LPIC-1 Linux Installation and Package Management Practice Question
Network Topology
The exhibit shows output from an RPM query on a RHEL 8 system. The installation time is shown as a Unix timestamp. Which command would display the installation date of the openssh-server package in a human-readable format?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse `--dump` or `--scripts` with displaying metadata, but only `-i` (info) provides the installation date in a human-readable format, while the other options show different types of package data.
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
✓
rpm -qi openssh-server
`rpm -qi` (query info) displays detailed metadata for the specified package, including the installation date in a human-readable format. The `-i` flag retrieves information such as the installation date, build date, and other package metadata, converting Unix timestamps to a readable date string.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
rpm -q --dump openssh-server
Why it's wrong here
--dump outputs every file in the package with size, checksum and permissions, and its install-time field remains a Unix timestamp, so it does not render the date human-readably. It is tempting because it exposes package metadata, but it would be correct when auditing file attributes rather than formatting installation time.
- ✗
rpm -q --changelog openssh-server
Why it's wrong here
--changelog lists the package's changelog entries with their dates, not the installation timestamp, so it cannot convert the queried install time. It is tempting because it does print human-readable dates, but it would be correct when reviewing version history and bug fixes rather than when the installation date is required.
- ✓
rpm -qi openssh-server
Why this is correct
`rpm -qi openssh-server` queries the installed package's metadata, and its output includes the "Install Date" field already rendered in human-readable form, satisfying the stem's requirement to convert the Unix timestamp. The `-q` query mode with `-i` information selector reads from the local RPM database, so no timestamp arithmetic is needed.
- ✗
rpm -q --scripts openssh-server
Why it's wrong here
--scripts lists the pre- and post-install scriptlets embedded in the package, which contain no installation timestamp at all. It is tempting because it queries package metadata, but it would be correct when inspecting maintainer script logic rather than determining when the package was installed.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 402 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.