LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
Which systemd target corresponds to the traditional runlevel 3?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse 'rescue.target' with runlevel 3, when in fact rescue.target is the systemd equivalent of single-user mode (runlevel 1), while multi-user.target is the correct match for runlevel 3.
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
✓
multi-user.target
In systemd, the 'multi-user.target' corresponds to the traditional SysV runlevel 3, which provides a multi-user, non-graphical environment with networking enabled. This target is the default for headless servers and is equivalent to the old /etc/inittab runlevel 3.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
multi-user.target
Why this is correct
Multi-user.target is the standard text mode, equivalent to runlevel 3.
- ✗
graphical.target
Why it's wrong here
Graphical target is runlevel 5, not 3.
- ✗
emergency.target
Why it's wrong here
Emergency target is a minimal rescue environment.
- ✗
rescue.target
Why it's wrong here
Rescue target is runlevel 1.
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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.