LPIC-2 File Sharing and Samba Practice Question
An administrator wants to configure Samba to allow only specific users to access a share. Which TWO configuration parameters in smb.conf can be used to restrict access based on usernames?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse 'valid users' and 'invalid users' with access control lists (ACLs) or think they only affect write permissions, when in fact they control all access (read and write) to the share.
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
✓
invalid users
(invalid users) is correct because it explicitly lists usernames that are denied access to a share, overriding any other access controls. Option D (valid users) is correct because it restricts access to only the specified usernames, denying all others. Both parameters operate at the Samba share level and directly filter based on usernames.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
hosts allow
Why it's wrong here
Restricts access by IP address, not username.
- ✓
invalid users
Why this is correct
Specifies which users are denied access to the share.
- ✗
write list
Why it's wrong here
Controls write permissions, not overall access.
- ✓
valid users
Why this is correct
Specifies which users are allowed to access the share.
- ✗
read list
Why it's wrong here
Controls read-only permissions, not overall access.
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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.