LPIC-2 Network Client Management Practice Question
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of network client management. 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 needs to configure an NFS client to mount an export from an NFSv4 server that requires Kerberos authentication. The client should mount the export at boot time. Which of the following must be ensured for the mount to succeed automatically?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The client must have a valid keytab for its host principal.
For an NFSv4 client to automatically mount an export requiring Kerberos authentication at boot time, the client must possess a valid keytab file containing its host principal (e.g., nfs/client.example.com@REALM). This keytab allows the system to obtain Kerberos credentials without interactive user input, enabling the kernel's NFS client to authenticate to the server during the mount process. Without a keytab, the mount would fail because no user is present to run kinit, and the system lacks the cryptographic material to prove its identity.
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 client must have a valid keytab for its host principal.
Why this is correct
The system keytab allows the client to authenticate without user interaction.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The NFS server must have the same hostname as the client.
Why it's wrong here
Hostnames do not need to match.
✗
The user must run kinit before mounting.
Why it's wrong here
The mount can use a system keytab without user intervention.
✗
The mount must be performed via an autofs map.
Why it's wrong here
autofs is not required; fstab can be used.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think running kinit manually or using autofs can substitute for a keytab, but the keytab is the only mechanism that provides non-interactive, boot-time Kerberos authentication for NFS mounts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the NFS client's kernel uses the rpc.gssd daemon to handle Kerberos authentication. At boot, rpc.gssd reads the keytab file (typically /etc/krb5.keytab) to obtain the host principal's credentials and stores them in the kernel's credential cache. This allows the client to perform RPCSEC_GSS exchanges with the server. A real-world scenario is a headless server in a data center where no user can log in to run kinit; the keytab is the only way to automate Kerberized NFS mounts.
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.
Network Client Management — This question tests Network Client Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The client must have a valid keytab for its host principal. — For an NFSv4 client to automatically mount an export requiring Kerberos authentication at boot time, the client must possess a valid keytab file containing its host principal (e.g., nfs/client.example.com@REALM). This keytab allows the system to obtain Kerberos credentials without interactive user input, enabling the kernel's NFS client to authenticate to the server during the mount process. Without a keytab, the mount would fail because no user is present to run kinit, and the system lacks the cryptographic material to prove its identity.
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.
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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