The answer is to edit /etc/resolv.conf. This file is the core configuration for the system's resolver library, which handles DNS lookups; by adding a 'domain' or 'search' directive alongside a specific 'nameserver' entry, you can force the system to use a particular DNS server for queries within that domain. On the LPIC-2 exam, this tests your understanding of how glibc resolves hostnames, and a common trap is assuming that systemd-resolved or NetworkManager’s configuration files are the direct answer—they often manage resolv.conf indirectly, but the exam expects you to know the traditional, low-level file. A strong memory tip is to think of resolv.conf as the “final say” for DNS: no matter what higher-level tools are running, the resolver reads this file last, so if you need to pin a specific DNS server for a domain, you write it here.
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.
A system administrator needs to configure a Linux client to use a specific DNS server for a particular domain. Which file should be modified to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Edit /etc/resolv.conf
The /etc/resolv.conf file is the primary configuration file for DNS resolution on Linux systems. It allows specifying DNS servers (nameserver entries) and search domains, and can be configured to use a specific DNS server for a particular domain by adding a 'domain' or 'search' directive along with the appropriate nameserver. This file is read by the resolver library (glibc) during DNS lookups.
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.
✗
Edit /etc/hosts
Why it's wrong here
hosts file is for static IP-to-hostname mappings, not DNS server configuration.
✗
Edit /etc/networks
Why it's wrong here
networks file is for mapping network names to network numbers, not DNS configuration.
✗
Edit /etc/nsswitch.conf
Why it's wrong here
nsswitch.conf controls the order of name resolution services, not DNS server configuration for a specific domain.
✓
Edit /etc/resolv.conf
Why this is correct
resolv.conf contains DNS server IPs and domain/search directives to specify default domains.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse /etc/resolv.conf with /etc/nsswitch.conf, thinking the latter controls DNS server selection, when in fact nsswitch.conf only defines the lookup order (e.g., files before dns) and not the actual DNS server addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The resolver library (libresolv) parses /etc/resolv.conf and supports the 'nameserver' directive for up to three DNS servers, and the 'domain' or 'search' directives to append domain suffixes. For per-domain DNS routing, more advanced setups often use dnsmasq or systemd-resolved with configuration in /etc/systemd/resolved.conf or stub files in /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/, as /etc/resolv.conf alone cannot route queries for specific domains to different servers without additional tools.
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: Edit /etc/resolv.conf — The /etc/resolv.conf file is the primary configuration file for DNS resolution on Linux systems. It allows specifying DNS servers (nameserver entries) and search domains, and can be configured to use a specific DNS server for a particular domain by adding a 'domain' or 'search' directive along with the appropriate nameserver. This file is read by the resolver library (glibc) during DNS lookups.
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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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.
Question Discussion
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