Quick Answer
The answer is `ip addr show` and `ifconfig`. Both commands display the current IP address and netmask on Linux, though they operate through different underlying tools: `ifconfig` is the legacy command from the net-tools package, showing IPv4 addresses with a dotted-quad netmask (e.g., `inet 192.168.1.10 netmask 255.255.255.0`), while `ip addr show` is the modern replacement from the iproute2 suite, presenting addresses in CIDR notation (e.g., `192.168.1.10/24`) and supporting both IPv4 and IPv6. On the LPIC-2 exam, this tests your understanding of network configuration and the transition from deprecated to current utilities—a common trap is assuming `ifconfig` is still the primary tool, whereas the exam emphasizes `ip` as the standard. A reliable memory tip: think of `ip` as the "new IP" tool that uses a slash for the netmask, while `ifconfig` is the "old config" that spells out the mask in full.
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of network client management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which TWO commands can be used to display the current IP address and netmask of network interfaces on a Linux system?
arp -a
Why wrong: Displays ARP cache, not local IP addresses.
ifconfig
Traditional command to display interface configuration, including IP and netmask.
ip addr show
Displays all IP addresses and netmasks assigned to interfaces.
netstat -i
Why wrong: netstat -i lists interfaces and statistics, but does not show IP addresses.
route -n
Why wrong: Displays the routing table, not IP addresses.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ifconfig
Both `ifconfig` and `ip addr show` can display the current IP address and netmask assigned to network interfaces. `ifconfig` is a legacy tool from the net-tools package that shows IPv4 addresses and netmasks (e.g., `inet 192.168.1.10 netmask 255.255.255.0`). `ip addr show` is the modern replacement from the iproute2 package, providing detailed IPv4 and IPv6 addressing information, including netmask in CIDR notation (e.g., `192.168.1.10/24`).
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.
arp -a
Why it's wrong here
Displays ARP cache, not local IP addresses.
ifconfig
Why this is correct
Traditional command to display interface configuration, including IP and netmask.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ip addr show
Why this is correct
Displays all IP addresses and netmasks assigned to interfaces.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
netstat -i
Why it's wrong here
netstat -i lists interfaces and statistics, but does not show IP addresses.
route -n
Why it's wrong here
Displays the routing table, not IP addresses.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse `netstat -i` (interface statistics) with displaying IP configuration, or assume `arp -a` shows local interface addresses instead of remote MAC mappings.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
netstat -i lists interfaces and statistics, but does not show IP addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `ip addr show` reads the netlink socket to query the kernel's network interface data structures, which support multiple IPv4 and IPv6 addresses per interface (secondary IPs). `ifconfig` uses the older ioctl system calls, which are limited to a single IPv4 address per interface and do not natively support CIDR notation. In modern distributions, `ip addr show` is preferred because it integrates with NetworkManager and systemd-networkd, providing consistent output for scripting and automation.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
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: ifconfig — Both `ifconfig` and `ip addr show` can display the current IP address and netmask assigned to network interfaces. `ifconfig` is a legacy tool from the net-tools package that shows IPv4 addresses and netmasks (e.g., `inet 192.168.1.10 netmask 255.255.255.0`). `ip addr show` is the modern replacement from the iproute2 package, providing detailed IPv4 and IPv6 addressing information, including netmask in CIDR notation (e.g., `192.168.1.10/24`).
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 11, 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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