LPIC-2 Network Client Management Practice Question
An administrator configured an autofs direct map for a remote NFS share. The master map at /etc/auto.master contains a line: '/data /etc/auto.direct'. The direct map file /etc/auto.direct has: '/projects -rw,soft fileserver:/exports/projects'. When a user tries to cd /data/projects, it hangs. The autofs service is running. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse the syntax for direct versus indirect maps in the master map, mistakenly thinking any path can be used for direct maps, when in fact '/-' is a required literal placeholder.
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
✓
The master map should use '/-' instead of '/data' for direct maps.
Direct maps in autofs must use the special mount point '/-' in the master map, not an actual directory path like '/data'. When '/data' is specified, autofs treats it as an indirect map key, causing it to look for a subdirectory matching the key under '/data' rather than triggering the direct mount of '/projects'. This mismatch leads to a hang when the user attempts to access '/data/projects' because autofs never attempts the NFS mount.
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 master map should use '/-' instead of '/data' for direct maps.
Why this is correct
Direct maps require the master map to have a mount point of '/-'.
- ✗
The NFS server fileserver is not exporting /exports/projects.
Why it's wrong here
The hang is due to autofs logic, not NFS connectivity.
- ✗
The autofs service is not started.
Why it's wrong here
Service is running per stem.
- ✗
The 'soft' mount option is missing.
Why it's wrong here
It is present in the map.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every LPIC-2 question from scratch — 507 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. 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.