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 server is configured with 'security = ads' and joined to an Active Directory domain. Users report that SIDs are not being resolved correctly. Which service and configuration file are critical for ID mapping?
smbd and /etc/samba/smb.conf
Why wrong: Incorrect; smbd does not handle ID mapping.
winbind and /etc/security/pam_winbind.conf
Why wrong: Incorrect; pam_winbind.conf is for PAM authentication, not ID mapping.
nmbd and /etc/samba/smb.conf
Why wrong: Incorrect; nmbd does not handle ID mapping.
winbind and /etc/samba/smb.conf
Correct; Winbind provides ID mapping and uses smb.conf for settings.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
winbind and /etc/samba/smb.conf
When Samba is configured with 'security = ads' and joined to an Active Directory domain, the winbind service is responsible for resolving Windows SIDs to Unix UIDs/GIDs and vice versa. The critical configuration for ID mapping is defined in the 'idmap config' directives within /etc/samba/smb.conf, making winbind and smb.conf the correct pair. Without winbind running and proper idmap configuration, SID resolution will fail.
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.
smbd and /etc/samba/smb.conf
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; smbd does not handle ID mapping.
winbind and /etc/security/pam_winbind.conf
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; pam_winbind.conf is for PAM authentication, not ID mapping.
nmbd and /etc/samba/smb.conf
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; nmbd does not handle ID mapping.
winbind and /etc/samba/smb.conf
Why this is correct
Correct; Winbind provides ID mapping and uses smb.conf for settings.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse winbind's role in authentication (PAM) with its role in ID mapping, leading them to choose /etc/security/pam_winbind.conf instead of /etc/samba/smb.conf for the critical configuration file.
Detailed technical explanation
Winbind uses the 'idmap config' parameters in smb.conf to define backends like 'rid', 'autorid', or 'ad' for mapping AD SIDs to Unix IDs. The winbindd daemon communicates with the Domain Controller via DCE/RPC and LDAP to resolve SIDs, and the mapping is cached in tdb files (e.g., winbindd_idmap.tdb). A common real-world issue is misconfigured 'idmap range' or missing 'idmap config * : backend = tdb' for trusted domains, causing partial resolution failures.
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: winbind and /etc/samba/smb.conf — When Samba is configured with 'security = ads' and joined to an Active Directory domain, the winbind service is responsible for resolving Windows SIDs to Unix UIDs/GIDs and vice versa. The critical configuration for ID mapping is defined in the 'idmap config' directives within /etc/samba/smb.conf, making winbind and smb.conf the correct pair. Without winbind running and proper idmap configuration, SID resolution will fail.
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
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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