LPIC-2 Linux Kernel and System Startup Practice Question
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of linux kernel and system startup. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A company develops a custom PCIe device driver as a kernel module. After installing a new kernel version 5.10.50 via a distribution update, the existing driver module fails to load with the error: 'insmod: ERROR: could not insert module mydriver.ko: Invalid module format'. The administrator checks the kernel version and sees that the module was compiled against a previous kernel version 5.10.45. The driver source code is available in /usr/src/mydriver. The administrator needs to get the driver working with the new kernel. Which of the following is the correct course of action?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Recompile the module using 'make -C /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build M=/usr/src/mydriver modules'
Option C is correct because the kernel module was compiled against a different kernel version (5.10.45) and the new kernel (5.10.50) has a different vermagic string, which includes the kernel version and other build parameters. The module must be recompiled against the new kernel's build tree located at /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build to match the vermagic and ensure symbol compatibility. The command 'make -C /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build M=/usr/src/mydriver modules' uses the kernel build system to compile the module against the running kernel's configuration and headers.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Copy the compiled .ko file to /lib/modules/5.10.50/kernel/drivers/misc/ and run 'depmod -a'
Why it's wrong here
Copying an incompatible binary will not resolve the format error.
✗
Edit the module's Makefile to change the version string to match the new kernel
Why it's wrong here
The version string is embedded during compilation; editing the Makefile does not change it and will still result in a mismatch.
✓
Recompile the module using 'make -C /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build M=/usr/src/mydriver modules'
Why this is correct
This compiles the module against the new kernel's build tree, ensuring compatible symbols.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use 'modprobe --force mydriver' to bypass the version check
Why it's wrong here
Forcing a module to load despite version mismatch can cause system crashes or undefined behavior.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume copying the module to the correct directory or using --force will work, but the kernel's strict version and symbol checking requires recompilation against the exact kernel build tree.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The kernel module loader checks the vermagic string embedded in the .ko file against the running kernel's vermagic, which includes the kernel version, SMP preemption type, and compiler version. Even a patch-level difference (e.g., 5.10.45 vs 5.10.50) can cause rejection if the kernel ABI or internal structures changed. The build directory /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build is a symlink to the kernel source or headers installed by the distribution, and the 'modules' target uses the Module.symvers file to verify symbol CRCs, ensuring binary compatibility.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Linux Kernel and System Startup — This question tests Linux Kernel and System Startup — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Recompile the module using 'make -C /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build M=/usr/src/mydriver modules' — Option C is correct because the kernel module was compiled against a different kernel version (5.10.45) and the new kernel (5.10.50) has a different vermagic string, which includes the kernel version and other build parameters. The module must be recompiled against the new kernel's build tree located at /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build to match the vermagic and ensure symbol compatibility. The command 'make -C /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build M=/usr/src/mydriver modules' uses the kernel build system to compile the module against the running kernel's configuration and headers.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-2 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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