LPIC-1 Administrative Tasks Practice Question
Which TWO commands can be used to schedule a one-time task at a specific time in the future? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse `cron` with `at` because both are time-based job schedulers, but `cron` is strictly for recurring tasks while `at` is for one-time execution, and `batch` is often overlooked as a valid one-time scheduler due to its load-dependent nature.
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
✓
batch
The `at` command is specifically designed to schedule a one-time task at a specified future time, using the `atd` daemon to execute the job. The `batch` command schedules a one-time task to run when system load levels permit, typically when the load average drops below 0.8 or as defined in `/proc/loadavg`.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
cron
Why it's wrong here
cron is for recurring jobs, not one-time.
- ✓
batch
Why this is correct
batch is similar to at but runs when load is low.
- ✗
sleep
Why it's wrong here
sleep pauses execution but does not schedule a separate task.
- ✓
at
Why this is correct
at schedules a job for a specific time.
- ✗
anacron
Why it's wrong here
anacron runs jobs with delays, not at a specific time.
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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.