This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of file sharing and samba. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Exhibit
Samba version 4.15.9
PID Username Group Machine Protocol Version Encryption Signing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12345 johndoe domain users 192.168.1.100 (ipv4:192.168.1.100:49152) SMB3_11 - partial(AES-128-CMAC)
Service pid Machine Connected at Encryption Signing
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
share1 12345 192.168.1.100 Mon Oct 25 10:30:45 2024 - partial
Locked files:
Pid Uid DenyMode R/W Oplock SharePath Name Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12345 1002 DENY_NONE RDONLY NONE /srv/samba/share1 report.txt Mon Oct 25 10:35:00 2024
Refer to the exhibit. What does the output indicate about the user John Doe's access to the file report.txt?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The user has a read lock with no deny mode.
The output shows that John Doe has a read lock on report.txt with no deny mode, meaning other processes can still read the file while he holds the lock. This is indicated by the lock type 'R' (read) and the absence of a deny mode (deny mode 'NONE'). In Samba, a read lock with no deny mode allows concurrent read access but prevents write access from other clients.
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.
✗
The user has a lease lock.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; Oplock is NONE, not a lease.
✓
The user has a read lock with no deny mode.
Why this is correct
Correct; DENY_NONE and RDONLY indicate a non-exclusive read lock.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The file is opened for writing.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; R/W is RDONLY.
✗
The user has an exclusive write lock.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; DenyMode is DENY_NONE and R/W is RDONLY.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
LPI often tests the distinction between lock type and deny mode, where candidates confuse a read lock with no deny mode for an exclusive lock or assume any lock prevents all access, but the deny mode specifically controls what other clients can do.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Samba, locks are managed via the smbstatus command, which displays lock types (R for read, W for write) and deny modes (NONE, READ, WRITE, DELETE). A read lock with no deny mode is a 'shared read lock' that allows multiple readers but blocks writers. This is implemented using POSIX advisory locks (fcntl) or SMB2/3 lease mechanisms, depending on the protocol version, and is critical for file sharing consistency in mixed-OS environments.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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.
File Sharing and Samba — This question tests File Sharing and Samba — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user has a read lock with no deny mode. — The output shows that John Doe has a read lock on report.txt with no deny mode, meaning other processes can still read the file while he holds the lock. This is indicated by the lock type 'R' (read) and the absence of a deny mode (deny mode 'NONE'). In Samba, a read lock with no deny mode allows concurrent read access but prevents write access from other clients.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.