This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of administrative tasks. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO commands can be used to schedule a one-time task at a specific time in the future? (Choose TWO.)
cron
Why wrong: cron is for recurring jobs, not one-time.
batch
batch is similar to at but runs when load is low.
sleep
Why wrong: sleep pauses execution but does not schedule a separate task.
at
at schedules a job for a specific time.
anacron
Why wrong: anacron runs jobs with delays, not at a specific time.
Answer choices
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`.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
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.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
anacron
Why it's wrong here
anacron runs jobs with delays, not at a specific time.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often 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.
Detailed technical explanation
The `at` command uses the `atd` daemon to queue jobs, storing them in `/var/spool/at/` with a timestamp; the job runs exactly once when the system clock reaches the specified time. The `batch` command is essentially a wrapper for `at` that sets a load-based condition, using the same queue but deferring execution until the load average is low. A subtle behavior: if the system is off at the scheduled time, `at` jobs are not executed, unlike `anacron` which catches up missed jobs.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
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FAQ
Administrative Tasks — This question tests Administrative Tasks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 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`.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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.
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