This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of network client management. 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 uses NIS for user authentication. A client cannot log in with network accounts but local accounts work. Which command should be used to check if the client is bound to the NIS domain?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
ypwhich
Displays the NIS server currently bound.
ypset
Why wrong: Used to set the NIS server, not to query.
ypcat passwd
Why wrong: Retrieves passwd map, but requires binding first.
domainname
Why wrong: Shows the NIS domain name, not binding status.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ypwhich
The `ypwhich` command is used to display the NIS server to which the client is currently bound. If the client is not bound to any NIS domain, `ypwhich` returns an error, confirming the binding issue. This directly checks the NIS client-server binding, which is essential for network authentication.
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.
ypwhich
Why this is correct
Displays the NIS server currently bound.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ypset
Why it's wrong here
Used to set the NIS server, not to query.
ypcat passwd
Why it's wrong here
Retrieves passwd map, but requires binding first.
domainname
Why it's wrong here
Shows the NIS domain name, not binding status.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `domainname` (which only shows the configured NIS domain) with `ypwhich` (which confirms active binding to a server), leading them to pick D when the actual issue is a missing or failed binding.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows the NIS domain name, not binding status.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, NIS uses a binding process where the client's `ypbind` daemon contacts the NIS server via RPC (portmap) to establish a binding. `ypwhich` queries the `ypbind` daemon for the currently bound server's hostname. In real-world scenarios, if `ypwhich` fails, common causes include a stopped `ypbind` daemon, incorrect domain name, or network/firewall blocking RPC traffic (port 111 and the NIS port range).
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LPIC-2 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Network Client Management — This question tests Network Client Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ypwhich — The `ypwhich` command is used to display the NIS server to which the client is currently bound. If the client is not bound to any NIS domain, `ypwhich` returns an error, confirming the binding issue. This directly checks the NIS client-server binding, which is essential for network authentication.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LPIC-2 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-2 exam.
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