LPIC-2 System Security Practice Question
Which TWO commands can be used to display the current iptables rules for the filter table?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse `-S` (which outputs rules in a format suitable for saving/restoring) with `-L` (which displays the rules in a readable list), or forget that `-t filter` is the default and assume only `-t filter -L` works.
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
✓
iptables -L
`iptables -L` lists the current rules in the default filter table without needing to specify the table explicitly. Option C is correct because `iptables -t filter -L` explicitly selects the filter table and lists its rules, which is functionally equivalent to the default behavior of `iptables -L`.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
iptables -L
Why this is correct
Correct. `iptables -L` lists the rules in the filter table by default.
- ✗
iptables -S
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. `iptables -S` outputs rules in a save/restore format, not a human-readable list. It does not list rules in the filter table by default either.
- ✓
iptables -t filter -L
Why this is correct
Correct. `iptables -t filter -L` explicitly selects the filter table and lists its rules.
- ✗
iptables -t nat -L
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. `iptables -t nat -L` lists rules in the nat table, not the filter table.
- ✗
iptables -t mangle -L
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. `iptables -t mangle -L` lists rules in the mangle table, not the filter table.
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JA
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.