LPIC-2 File Sharing and Samba Practice Question
A Samba server uses 'security = domain' with an NT4-style domain. After a domain controller outage, users cannot authenticate. Which configuration change would allow fallback to local authentication?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse Samba's browsing roles (domain master, local master, preferred master) with authentication modes, assuming a browsing parameter can provide authentication fallback.
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
✓
Set 'security = user' and 'passdb backend = tdbsam'
When a Samba server is configured with 'security = domain', it relies on a remote NT4-style domain controller for authentication. If the domain controller is unavailable, users cannot authenticate because Samba has no local fallback. Changing to 'security = user' and setting 'passdb backend = tdbsam' switches Samba to authenticate users against its own local password database (tdbsam), allowing authentication even when the domain controller is down.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Set 'domain master = no'
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; this affects browsing, not authentication.
- ✓
Set 'security = user' and 'passdb backend = tdbsam'
Why this is correct
Correct; switches to local authentication mode.
- ✗
Set 'local master = yes'
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; this affects browsing, not authentication.
- ✗
Set 'preferred master = no'
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; this affects browsing, not authentication.
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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.