This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of file sharing and samba. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
$ smbstatus -S
Service pid machine Connected at
-------------------------------
data 1234 client1 Mon Jan 20 10:00:00 2025
$ pdbedit -L -v | grep -A5 "Unix username"
Unix username: alice
NT username: EXAMPLE\\alice
Account Flags: [U ]
User SID: S-1-5-21-123456789-1001
Primary Group SID: S-1-5-21-123456789-513
Full Name: Alice
Home Directory: \\server\\alice
Home Drive: H:
Script Path: \\server\\netlogon\\alice.bat
Profile Path: \\server\\profiles\\alice
A user alice is connected to the 'data' share via smbd, but a file is locked. Which command can forcibly close the file?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Refer to the exhibit.
$ smbstatus -S
Service pid machine Connected at
-------------------------------
data 1234 client1 Mon Jan 20 10:00:00 2025
$ pdbedit -L -v | grep -A5 "Unix username"
Unix username: alice
NT username: EXAMPLE\\alice
Account Flags: [U ]
User SID: S-1-5-21-123456789-1001
Primary Group SID: S-1-5-21-123456789-513
Full Name: Alice
Home Directory: \\server\\alice
Home Drive: H:
Script Path: \\server\\netlogon\\alice.bat
Profile Path: \\server\\profiles\\alice
A
smbpasswd -L -e alice
Why wrong: smbpasswd manages passwords, not locks.
B
smbcontrol smbd close-share data
smbcontrol can interact with smbd to close a share.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
smbcontrol smbd close-share data
Option B is correct because `smbcontrol smbd close-share data` sends a message to the smbd process to forcibly close all open files on the 'data' share, releasing any locks held by users like alice. This command directly targets the Samba daemon's internal state without disrupting the entire service or other shares.
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.
✗
smbpasswd -L -e alice
Why it's wrong here
smbpasswd manages passwords, not locks.
✓
smbcontrol smbd close-share data
Why this is correct
smbcontrol can interact with smbd to close a share.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
systemctl restart nmbd
Why it's wrong here
nmbd is for NetBIOS, not file locks.
✗
kill -9 $(pgrep smbd)
Why it's wrong here
Kills all smbd processes, disruptive.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse `smbcontrol` with other Samba utilities or think that restarting the entire Samba service (nmbd or smbd) is the only way to clear locks, overlooking the targeted `close-share` command.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `smbcontrol` utility uses Samba's internal messaging system (based on Unix domain sockets or shared memory) to send control commands to running smbd processes. The `close-share` command triggers smbd to iterate through all open file handles on the specified share, close them, and release associated locks, which is useful in scenarios where a stale lock prevents access but the client cannot be contacted to release it gracefully.
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.
File Sharing and Samba — This question tests File Sharing and Samba — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: smbcontrol smbd close-share data — Option B is correct because `smbcontrol smbd close-share data` sends a message to the smbd process to forcibly close all open files on the 'data' share, releasing any locks held by users like alice. This command directly targets the Samba daemon's internal state without disrupting the entire service or other shares.
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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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