This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of linux kernel and system startup. 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 ensure a kernel module is loaded automatically at boot for a hardware device. Which file should be modified to add the module name?
/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
Why wrong: blacklist.conf prevents modules from loading.
/etc/udev/rules.d/
Why wrong: udev rules handle device events, not initial module loading.
/etc/modules-load.d/
Files in /etc/modules-load.d/ specify modules to load at boot.
/proc/sys/kernel/
Why wrong: /proc/sys/kernel/ is for runtime kernel parameters, not persistent module loading.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
/etc/modules-load.d/
Option C is correct because the `/etc/modules-load.d/` directory contains configuration files that list kernel module names to be loaded automatically at boot by the `systemd-modules-load.service`. This is the standard mechanism in modern Linux distributions using systemd to ensure specific modules are loaded early in the boot process, before udev or other services handle device detection.
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.
/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
Why it's wrong here
blacklist.conf prevents modules from loading.
/etc/udev/rules.d/
Why it's wrong here
udev rules handle device events, not initial module loading.
/etc/modules-load.d/
Why this is correct
Files in /etc/modules-load.d/ specify modules to load at boot.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/proc/sys/kernel/
Why it's wrong here
/proc/sys/kernel/ is for runtime kernel parameters, not persistent module loading.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the static boot-time module loading mechanism (`/etc/modules-load.d/`) with the dynamic device-driven module loading via udev rules (`/etc/udev/rules.d/`), mistakenly thinking udev is the correct place to force a module to load at boot regardless of device presence.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `systemd-modules-load.service` reads all `.conf` files in `/etc/modules-load.d/` and `/usr/lib/modules-load.d/` (in that order) and runs `modprobe` for each listed module name. A subtle behavior is that if a module is already built into the kernel (not a loadable module), the entry is silently ignored. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for hardware like proprietary GPU drivers or network card firmware that must be loaded before udev processes device events, ensuring the device is immediately available.
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
Linux Kernel and System Startup — This question tests Linux Kernel and System Startup — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: /etc/modules-load.d/ — Option C is correct because the `/etc/modules-load.d/` directory contains configuration files that list kernel module names to be loaded automatically at boot by the `systemd-modules-load.service`. This is the standard mechanism in modern Linux distributions using systemd to ensure specific modules are loaded early in the boot process, before udev or other services handle device detection.
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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