LPIC-2 Advanced Networking Configuration Practice Question
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of advanced networking configuration. 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 system administrator notices that the network bond interface bond0 is not operational. The bond is configured using mode 1 (active-backup). The physical interfaces eth0 and eth1 are both up but bond0 shows 'DOWN'. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The physical interfaces must be set to the 'down' state before being added as slaves.
In Linux bonding, when adding physical interfaces as slaves to a bond in mode 1 (active-backup), the slave interfaces must be in the 'down' state before being enslaved. If they are already 'up', the bond may fail to recognize them correctly, leaving bond0 in a 'DOWN' state even though the physical links are up. This is because the bonding driver expects to take control of the interface's link state and will not properly manage a slave that is already administratively up.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 bond mode is set to an unsupported value.
Why it's wrong here
Mode 1 is a standard and supported mode.
✗
The bonding module has not been loaded into the kernel.
Why it's wrong here
Bond0 exists, so the module is loaded.
✓
The physical interfaces must be set to the 'down' state before being added as slaves.
Why this is correct
Slave interfaces are often required to be down before bonding to avoid conflicts.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The bond0 interface has not been assigned an IP address.
Why it's wrong here
An interface can be up without an IP address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume that because the physical interfaces are 'up' and have link, the bond should automatically be 'up', but Linux bonding requires slaves to be administratively down before enslaving, a detail that is frequently overlooked in exam questions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Linux bonding driver requires that slave interfaces be administratively down (ip link set eth0 down) before enslaving them to a bond. This is because the driver needs to reset the interface's hardware address and take over link monitoring; if the slave is up, the driver may fail to properly set the MAC address or handle failover events. In active-backup mode, the bond uses the MAC address of the first slave that is brought up, and if slaves are already up, the bond may not correctly inherit the MAC, leading to a down state. A real-world scenario is when administrators use NetworkManager or systemd-networkd to configure bonds, and the slaves are automatically brought up before the bond is created, causing the same issue.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Advanced Networking Configuration — This question tests Advanced Networking Configuration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The physical interfaces must be set to the 'down' state before being added as slaves. — In Linux bonding, when adding physical interfaces as slaves to a bond in mode 1 (active-backup), the slave interfaces must be in the 'down' state before being enslaved. If they are already 'up', the bond may fail to recognize them correctly, leaving bond0 in a 'DOWN' state even though the physical links are up. This is because the bonding driver expects to take control of the interface's link state and will not properly manage a slave that is already administratively up.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-2 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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