LPIC-1 Essential System Services and Networking Practice Question
Which of the following commands will display the default gateway of a Linux system?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse `netstat -r` (which does show the routing table) with `netstat -i` (which only shows interface statistics), leading them to incorrectly select option B.
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
✓
ip route show
The `ip route show` command displays the kernel routing table, which includes the default gateway as a default route (typically `default via <gateway-IP>`). This is the standard modern tool for viewing routing information on Linux systems.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
arp -a
Why it's wrong here
Shows the ARP cache, not routing.
- ✗
netstat -i
Why it's wrong here
Shows interface statistics.
- ✓
ip route show
Why this is correct
Displays routing table including default gateway.
- ✗
ifconfig
Why it's wrong here
ifconfig shows interface configuration, not routing.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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