LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
Which file is used by GRUB to load the kernel at boot time?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the configuration file that GRUB reads at boot (/boot/grub/grub.cfg) with the files used to generate it (/etc/default/grub and /etc/grub.d/), leading them to pick a wrong answer that is part of the generation process rather than the runtime configuration.
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
✓
/boot/grub/grub.cfg
GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) reads its main configuration file, /boot/grub/grub.cfg, to determine which kernel to load and with what parameters. This file contains the menu entries, kernel paths, and initrd directives that GRUB uses at boot time. It is automatically generated by update-grub or grub-mkconfig based on scripts in /etc/grub.d/ and settings in /etc/default/grub.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
/etc/grub.d/
Why it's wrong here
This directory contains scripts that generate grub.cfg.
- ✗
/etc/default/grub
Why it's wrong here
This file contains user settings but is not read directly by GRUB.
- ✗
/boot/vmlinuz
Why it's wrong here
This is the kernel image, not the configuration.
- ✓
/boot/grub/grub.cfg
Why this is correct
This is the generated configuration file used by GRUB at boot.
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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.