This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of file sharing and samba. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 server experiences slow file transfers for large files. The administrator suspects oplock issues. Which set of parameters should be adjusted to disable opportunistic locking?
oplocks = false alone is sufficient
Why wrong: While oplocks = no disables oplocks, level2 oplocks may still be enabled; both should be disabled.
strict locking = yes
Why wrong: strict locking enforces byte-range locks, unrelated to oplocks.
kernel oplocks = no
Why wrong: kernel oplocks affects NFS interaction, not SMB oplocks.
oplocks = no and level2 oplocks = no
Setting both disables all oplocks, improving performance for some workloads.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
oplocks = no and level2 oplocks = no
Option D is correct because disabling opportunistic locking (oplocks) in Samba requires setting both 'oplocks = no' and 'level2 oplocks = no'. The 'oplocks = no' directive disables exclusive oplocks, but Samba's default behavior still allows level2 oplocks (read-only caching). To fully disable all forms of oplock caching, both parameters must be set to 'no', preventing client-side caching that can cause conflicts and slow transfers for large files.
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.
oplocks = false alone is sufficient
Why it's wrong here
While oplocks = no disables oplocks, level2 oplocks may still be enabled; both should be disabled.
strict locking = yes
Why it's wrong here
strict locking enforces byte-range locks, unrelated to oplocks.
kernel oplocks = no
Why it's wrong here
kernel oplocks affects NFS interaction, not SMB oplocks.
oplocks = no and level2 oplocks = no
Why this is correct
Setting both disables all oplocks, improving performance for some workloads.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates assume setting 'oplocks = no' alone is sufficient, overlooking that Samba's default behavior enables level2 oplocks separately, requiring both parameters to be explicitly disabled.
Detailed technical explanation
Opportunistic locking in Samba allows clients to cache file data locally, reducing network traffic but risking data corruption when multiple clients access the same file. Level2 oplocks (read-only) are automatically granted when exclusive oplocks are disabled, so both parameters must be explicitly set to 'no' to force all I/O operations to go through the server. In real-world scenarios, disabling oplocks entirely is often necessary for database files or virtual disk images where concurrent access patterns cause frequent oplock breaks, leading to severe performance degradation.
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
File Sharing and Samba — This question tests File Sharing and Samba — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: oplocks = no and level2 oplocks = no — Option D is correct because disabling opportunistic locking (oplocks) in Samba requires setting both 'oplocks = no' and 'level2 oplocks = no'. The 'oplocks = no' directive disables exclusive oplocks, but Samba's default behavior still allows level2 oplocks (read-only caching). To fully disable all forms of oplock caching, both parameters must be set to 'no', preventing client-side caching that can cause conflicts and slow transfers for large files.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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