This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of file sharing and samba. 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.
An administrator configures a Samba share with guest access. After testing, guests are prompted for a password. Which directive should be added to the [global] section to allow guest access without a password?
guest account = nobody
Why wrong: Incorrect; defines the guest account but does not enable guest access.
map to guest = Bad User
Correct; maps unknown users to guest, enabling password-less guest access.
security = user
Why wrong: Incorrect; this is the default mode and requires authentication.
encrypt passwords = yes
Why wrong: Incorrect; this enables encrypted password negotiation, not guest access.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
map to guest = Bad User
The 'map to guest = Bad User' directive in the [global] section tells Samba to automatically map any login attempt with an invalid username to the guest account, bypassing password authentication. This is the correct setting to allow guest access without a password prompt, as it treats unknown users as guests.
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.
guest account = nobody
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; defines the guest account but does not enable guest access.
map to guest = Bad User
Why this is correct
Correct; maps unknown users to guest, enabling password-less guest access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
security = user
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; this is the default mode and requires authentication.
encrypt passwords = yes
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; this enables encrypted password negotiation, not guest access.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'guest account = nobody' with enabling guest access, but it only defines the Unix account used for guest operations, not the mechanism to bypass password prompts.
Detailed technical explanation
The 'map to guest' directive supports three values: 'Never' (default, no guest mapping), 'Bad User' (maps unknown usernames to guest), and 'Bad Password' (maps known users with wrong passwords to guest, which is a security risk). Under the hood, Samba uses the 'guest account' parameter (default 'nobody') for file operations, and the guest mapping occurs during the SMB session setup phase before any share-level access is granted. In real-world scenarios, 'Bad User' is preferred for public shares like printer servers or anonymous file drops, while 'Bad Password' is rarely used due to potential credential leakage.
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
File Sharing and Samba — This question tests File Sharing and Samba — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: map to guest = Bad User — The 'map to guest = Bad User' directive in the [global] section tells Samba to automatically map any login attempt with an invalid username to the guest account, bypassing password authentication. This is the correct setting to allow guest access without a password prompt, as it treats unknown users as guests.
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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