LPIC-2 File Sharing and Samba Practice Question
A Samba server is configured as a print server. Clients running Windows 10 report that printer drivers cannot be uploaded. The relevant smb.conf section is:
[printers]
comment = All Printers path = /var/spool/samba browseable = no printable = yes
What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates mistakenly think 'browseable = no' prevents driver discovery, when in fact Windows driver uploads rely on direct UNC connections (e.g., \\server\printername) and are independent of browseability.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The 'guest ok = yes' directive is missing
The 'printable = yes' directive is present, so option A is not the issue. The 'path' /var/spool/samba is the standard spool directory for Samba print jobs, so option B is incorrect. The 'browseable = no' only hides the share from browsing, but does not prevent driver uploads; Windows clients can still connect directly. The most likely cause is that 'guest ok = yes' is missing, because by default Samba requires authentication for printer shares, and Windows 10 clients attempting to upload drivers often do so under the guest account (or without valid credentials) unless the share explicitly allows guest access. Without 'guest ok = yes', the upload is denied.
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 'printable = yes' directive is missing
Why it's wrong here
It is present
- ✗
The 'path' is incorrectly set to /var/spool/samba
Why it's wrong here
Path is correct
- ✓
The 'guest ok = yes' directive is missing
Why this is correct
Needed for driver upload
- ✗
The 'browseable = no' directive prevents driver discovery
Why it's wrong here
Does not affect upload
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.