LPIC-2 System Security Practice Question
Which file is used to configure which users and groups are allowed to use the 'cron' daemon?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the access control files (/etc/cron.allow and /etc/cron.deny) with the directories or system crontab files that store or schedule jobs, such as /var/spool/cron/ or /etc/crontab.
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
✓
/etc/cron.allow
The /etc/cron.allow file explicitly lists users and groups permitted to schedule cron jobs. If this file exists, only those entries can use crontab; all others are denied, regardless of /etc/cron.deny. This provides a whitelist-based access control mechanism for the cron daemon.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
/var/spool/cron/
Why it's wrong here
Directory containing user crontab files.
- ✗
/etc/cron.d/
Why it's wrong here
Directory for system cron jobs.
- ✗
/etc/crontab
Why it's wrong here
System crontab file, not for user access control.
- ✓
/etc/cron.allow
Why this is correct
Lists users allowed to use cron.
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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.