This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of file sharing and samba. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 sets up a Samba server with 'security = user'. Users are stored in the local smbpasswd file. After changing a user's Unix password, the user cannot access Samba shares. What should the administrator do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Run 'smbpasswd username' to set the SMB password.
When Samba is configured with 'security = user', each user must have a separate SMB password stored in the smbpasswd file (or the tdbsam backend). Changing the Unix password does not automatically update the SMB password. Running 'smbpasswd username' sets the SMB password for that user, allowing them to authenticate to Samba 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.
✗
Add the user to the 'valid users' list.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; this controls access, not authentication.
✓
Run 'smbpasswd username' to set the SMB password.
Why this is correct
Correct; SMB passwords are independent of Unix passwords and must be set explicitly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Restart the smbd service.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; restarting does not update passwords.
✗
Run 'pdbedit -u username' to modify the password.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; pdbedit modifies account settings, not password change.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume changing the Unix password automatically updates the Samba password, or that restarting the service will synchronize them, when in fact they are stored in separate databases and must be updated independently.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Samba maintains its own password database separate from the Unix /etc/shadow file, even when using 'security = user'. The smbpasswd command updates the NT hash (and optionally the LM hash) stored in the smbpasswd file or tdbsam, which is required for NTLM authentication. In a real-world scenario, administrators often forget this separation and assume a Unix password change propagates to Samba, leading to authentication failures until the SMB password is explicitly set.
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: Run 'smbpasswd username' to set the SMB password. — When Samba is configured with 'security = user', each user must have a separate SMB password stored in the smbpasswd file (or the tdbsam backend). Changing the Unix password does not automatically update the SMB password. Running 'smbpasswd username' sets the SMB password for that user, allowing them to authenticate to Samba 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.
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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