This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of file sharing and samba. 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 THREE of the following parameters can improve Samba file transfer performance under heavy load?
strict allocate = Yes
Why wrong: Strict allocate ensures space preallocation but may slow writes.
oplocks = Yes
Why wrong: Oplocks improve performance but can cause caching issues; not always a direct performance tuner.
write raw = Yes
Enables large write requests for improved throughput.
socket options = TCP_NODELAY IPTOS_LOWDELAY
Tuning socket options reduces latency.
read raw = Yes
Enables large read requests for improved throughput.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
write raw = Yes
Option C is correct because enabling 'write raw = Yes' allows Samba to use the raw write SMB protocol, which sends larger write requests without waiting for intermediate acknowledgments, reducing protocol overhead and improving throughput under heavy load. This setting is particularly effective when combined with other performance tuning parameters.
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.
strict allocate = Yes
Why it's wrong here
Strict allocate ensures space preallocation but may slow writes.
oplocks = Yes
Why it's wrong here
Oplocks improve performance but can cause caching issues; not always a direct performance tuner.
write raw = Yes
Why this is correct
Enables large write requests for improved throughput.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
socket options = TCP_NODELAY IPTOS_LOWDELAY
Why this is correct
Tuning socket options reduces latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
read raw = Yes
Why this is correct
Enables large read requests for improved throughput.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'oplocks' or 'strict allocate' as performance boosters for raw throughput, when in fact they serve different purposes (caching and space allocation) and can even degrade performance under heavy load.
Detailed technical explanation
The 'write raw' and 'read raw' parameters enable Samba to use the SMB_COM_WRITE_RAW and SMB_COM_READ_RAW commands, which bypass the normal SMB transaction headers and allow large data transfers in a single request, significantly reducing CPU overhead and latency. The 'socket options = TCP_NODELAY IPTOS_LOWDELAY' disables Nagle's algorithm and sets the IP type-of-service to low delay, minimizing TCP buffering delays for interactive SMB traffic. In real-world scenarios, these settings are critical for high-throughput environments like file servers with many concurrent users or large file transfers.
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
File Sharing and Samba — This question tests File Sharing and Samba — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: write raw = Yes — Option C is correct because enabling 'write raw = Yes' allows Samba to use the raw write SMB protocol, which sends larger write requests without waiting for intermediate acknowledgments, reducing protocol overhead and improving throughput under heavy load. This setting is particularly effective when combined with other performance tuning parameters.
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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