LPIC-2 File Sharing and Samba Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often 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.
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
✓
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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
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.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 507 original LPIC-2 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.