LPIC-2 Network Client Management Practice Question
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 Linux client is configured to authenticate users against an LDAP server using PAM. Some users are unable to log in, while others succeed. The admin has verified that the LDAP server is reachable and that the user entries exist. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The pam_ldap configuration has a size limit that restricts search results.
Option B is correct because the pam_ldap configuration can include a size limit (e.g., 'pam_ldap size_limit 500') that restricts the number of entries returned from an LDAP search. When a user logs in, PAM may perform a search that returns multiple matching entries (e.g., due to ambiguous username or group membership lookups), and if the result set exceeds this limit, the search fails for some users. This explains why some users succeed while others fail, even though the LDAP server is reachable and user entries exist.
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.
✗
The nsswitch.conf file is missing the 'ldap' entry for 'passwd'.
Why it's wrong here
This would affect all users, not just some.
✓
The pam_ldap configuration has a size limit that restricts search results.
Why this is correct
A size limit can cause some valid users to be omitted from search results, leading to intermittent failures.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The LDAP server is using different encryption settings.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption mismatch would affect all users, not just some.
✗
The nslcd service is not running.
Why it's wrong here
If nslcd is not running, all LDAP lookups would fail.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume all authentication failures are due to network or service issues, but the question specifically states the LDAP server is reachable and user entries exist, so the cause must be a client-side configuration limit that affects only some users, such as a size limit in pam_ldap.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The pam_ldap module (or the newer pam_ldap.conf) supports a 'size_limit' parameter that defaults to 0 (unlimited) but can be set to a positive integer. When an LDAP search returns more entries than this limit, the search is truncated and may cause PAM to treat the result as an error, leading to authentication failures for users whose entries appear later in the result set. This is distinct from the LDAP server's own size limit (e.g., 'sizelimit' in slapd.conf), which would affect all clients; the pam_ldap size limit is client-side and can cause inconsistent behavior across users.
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 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
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.
Network Client Management — This question tests Network Client Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The pam_ldap configuration has a size limit that restricts search results. — Option B is correct because the pam_ldap configuration can include a size limit (e.g., 'pam_ldap size_limit 500') that restricts the number of entries returned from an LDAP search. When a user logs in, PAM may perform a search that returns multiple matching entries (e.g., due to ambiguous username or group membership lookups), and if the result set exceeds this limit, the search fails for some users. This explains why some users succeed while others fail, even though the LDAP server is reachable and user entries exist.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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