LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
Which directory contains information about hardware devices in a hierarchical structure, such as PCI devices and USB devices?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse /proc (which also contains some hardware info like /proc/cpuinfo) with /sys, but /proc lacks the structured, hierarchical device topology that sysfs provides for buses like PCI and USB.
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
✓
/sys
The /sys directory (sysfs) is a virtual filesystem that exports information about hardware devices, drivers, and kernel objects in a hierarchical structure. It organizes devices by their bus type (e.g., PCI, USB) and provides detailed attributes such as vendor IDs, device IDs, and power management states, making it the correct location for querying hardware topology.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
/sys
Why this is correct
/sys (sysfs) provides detailed device hierarchy and attributes.
- ✗
/dev
Why it's wrong here
/dev contains device files (entries), not the hierarchical device information.
- ✗
/etc
Why it's wrong here
/etc holds configuration files, not hardware information.
- ✗
/proc
Why it's wrong here
/proc contains process and kernel information, but not hardware topology.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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