This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of file sharing and samba. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 Samba administrator needs to configure a share that allows only the user 'alice' and the group 'developers' to read and write files. Others should have no access. Which two parameters should be set in the share definition? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
valid users = alice, @developers
The 'valid users' parameter restricts access to only the specified users and groups, so setting 'valid users = alice, @developers' ensures only alice and members of the developers group can connect to the share. The 'write list' parameter grants write access to the listed users and groups, overriding any read-only setting; combining it with 'valid users' ensures that alice and the developers group have both read and write permissions, while all others are denied access entirely.
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.
✓
valid users = alice, @developers
Why this is correct
Restricts access to alice and members of the developers group.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
invalid users = alice, @developers
Why it's wrong here
This would deny access to alice and developers.
✗
force user = alice
Why it's wrong here
This forces all connections to the share to run as alice, but does not restrict access.
✓
write list = alice, @developers
Why this is correct
Grants write access to alice and developers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
read list = alice, @developers
Why it's wrong here
This would give them read-only access, not write.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'valid users' with 'write list' or think 'invalid users' can be used to deny everyone except the listed users, but 'invalid users' explicitly blocks those users rather than allowing them, and 'write list' alone does not restrict access to only those users.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Samba's access control is evaluated in a specific order: 'invalid users' is checked first (denying access), then 'valid users' (granting access), and finally 'write list' and 'read list' override the global 'read only' setting. In real-world scenarios, administrators often combine 'valid users' with 'write list' to create a share that is read-only by default but allows specific users or groups to write, ensuring fine-grained control without duplicating user lists.
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.
File Sharing and Samba — This question tests File Sharing and Samba — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: valid users = alice, @developers — The 'valid users' parameter restricts access to only the specified users and groups, so setting 'valid users = alice, @developers' ensures only alice and members of the developers group can connect to the share. The 'write list' parameter grants write access to the listed users and groups, overriding any read-only setting; combining it with 'valid users' ensures that alice and the developers group have both read and write permissions, while all others are denied access entirely.
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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