LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
Which TWO commands can be used to display the amount of free and used memory on a Linux system? (Select exactly 2.)
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse `du` (disk usage) with memory reporting, or assume `vmstat` or `top` are primary tools for a simple free/used memory display, when `free` and `/proc/meminfo` are the direct and standard answers.
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
✓
cat /proc/meminfo
`/proc/meminfo` is a virtual file maintained by the kernel that provides detailed, real-time memory statistics, including total, free, available, and used memory. Reading this file with `cat` directly displays the current memory usage without any additional processing.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
vmstat
Why it's wrong here
vmstat reports memory, but it's less common than free.
- ✗
du
Why it's wrong here
du reports disk usage, not memory.
- ✓
cat /proc/meminfo
Why this is correct
Directly reads kernel memory information.
- ✓
free
Why this is correct
free displays memory usage in a concise format.
- ✗
top
Why it's wrong here
top shows processes and memory but is interactive; not a direct memory display command.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 527 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.