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 wants to automatically mount home directories from an NFS server when a user logs in. Which service should be configured?
rpcbind
Why wrong: Required for NFS but not automatic mounting.
smb
Why wrong: SMB is for Windows sharing.
autofs
autofs mounts directories automatically upon access.
nfs
Why wrong: NFS is the protocol, not the automounter.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
autofs
Autofs is the correct service because it provides on-demand mounting of NFS home directories triggered by user login. It uses the automount daemon to mount directories only when accessed, reducing network overhead and avoiding permanent mount entries in /etc/fstab. This is the standard Linux solution for dynamic NFS home directory mounting.
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.
rpcbind
Why it's wrong here
Required for NFS but not automatic mounting.
smb
Why it's wrong here
SMB is for Windows sharing.
autofs
Why this is correct
autofs mounts directories automatically upon access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
nfs
Why it's wrong here
NFS is the protocol, not the automounter.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the underlying NFS protocol (option D) with the automounting service (autofs), or mistakenly think rpcbind (option A) handles the mounting logic, when in fact rpcbind only facilitates NFS communication and autofs is the dedicated service for on-demand mounts.
Detailed technical explanation
Autofs works by configuring auto.master and auto.misc (or auto.home) map files, which define mount points and NFS export paths. When a user logs in, PAM (pluggable authentication modules) triggers access to the home directory, causing autofs to dynamically mount the NFS share using the kernel's automounter. In real-world deployments, autofs is often combined with LDAP or NIS to distribute automount maps across many clients, ensuring consistent home directory access without manual fstab entries.
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
Network Client Management — This question tests Network Client Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: autofs — Autofs is the correct service because it provides on-demand mounting of NFS home directories triggered by user login. It uses the automount daemon to mount directories only when accessed, reducing network overhead and avoiding permanent mount entries in /etc/fstab. This is the standard Linux solution for dynamic NFS home directory mounting.
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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