This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of linux kernel and system startup. 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 server with multiple network cards needs a specific kernel module loaded before network configuration. Where should loading be configured for early boot?
/boot/grub/grub.cfg
Why wrong: GRUB configuration is for boot parameters, not module loading.
/etc/modprobe.d/
Why wrong: This directory is for module options, not automatic loading.
/etc/sysconfig/modules/
Why wrong: This is used by some older distributions but not the standard.
/etc/modules-load.d/
Files in /etc/modules-load.d/ list modules to be loaded at boot by systemd.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
/etc/modules-load.d/
Option D is correct because systemd-based systems use /etc/modules-load.d/ to specify kernel modules that must be loaded early in the boot process, before network configuration. Files in this directory are processed by systemd-modules-load.service, which runs before network services, ensuring the module is available when interfaces are brought up.
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.
/boot/grub/grub.cfg
Why it's wrong here
GRUB configuration is for boot parameters, not module loading.
/etc/modprobe.d/
Why it's wrong here
This directory is for module options, not automatic loading.
/etc/sysconfig/modules/
Why it's wrong here
This is used by some older distributions but not the standard.
/etc/modules-load.d/
Why this is correct
Files in /etc/modules-load.d/ list modules to be loaded at boot by systemd.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse /etc/modprobe.d/ (for module parameters and aliases) with /etc/modules-load.d/ (for specifying modules to load at boot), leading them to choose the wrong directory for early module loading.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, systemd-modules-load.service reads files with a .conf extension from /etc/modules-load.d/ and /run/modules-load.d/ (and /usr/lib/modules-load.d/ as fallback), each containing one module name per line. This mechanism is part of the systemd boot sequence and runs before network.target, ensuring modules like bonding or VLAN are loaded before network interfaces are configured. In a real-world scenario, a server with multiple NICs requiring the bonding driver must have it loaded early to avoid interface initialization 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
Linux Kernel and System Startup — This question tests Linux Kernel and System Startup — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: /etc/modules-load.d/ — Option D is correct because systemd-based systems use /etc/modules-load.d/ to specify kernel modules that must be loaded early in the boot process, before network configuration. Files in this directory are processed by systemd-modules-load.service, which runs before network services, ensuring the module is available when interfaces are brought up.
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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