LPIC-1 Linux Installation and Package Management Practice Question
You are the system administrator of a small office network. The company has a Debian-based server that runs a critical database application. The database package was installed from the official Debian repository. After an ‘apt upgrade’, the database service fails to start. The error log indicates a library version mismatch. You suspect the upgrade updated a shared library that the database depends on, but the database binary was not updated because the repository no longer supports it. The vendor provides a custom .deb package for the database on their website. You need to restore the database functionality as quickly as possible, but you also want to avoid breaking other packages that may depend on the newer library. What should you do?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates choose to downgrade the library (option C) thinking it's a quick fix, without realizing that apt's dependency resolution will prevent the downgrade if other packages require the newer version, or that it could break those packages, whereas the vendor's custom package is the intended solution for unsupported software.
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
✓
Download the vendor's .deb package and install it using 'dpkg -i' after removing the old database package.
The vendor's custom .deb package is specifically built for the database and its required library versions, ensuring compatibility. Installing it with 'dpkg -i' after removing the old database package avoids conflicts with the newer shared library that other packages depend on, restoring functionality without breaking the system.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Restore the entire system from a backup taken before the upgrade.
Why it's wrong here
Too drastic and time-consuming; a targeted fix is better.
- ✓
Download the vendor's .deb package and install it using 'dpkg -i' after removing the old database package.
Why this is correct
Vendor's package should be compatible and minimize disruption.
- ✗
Downgrade the library to the previous version using 'apt-get install <package>=<oldversion>'.
Why it's wrong here
Downgrading a shared library may cause other updated packages to fail.
- ✗
Use 'dpkg --force-depends -i' to force installation of the old database binary against the new library.
Why it's wrong here
Force-installing may lead to runtime crashes.
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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.