This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of advanced networking configuration. 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 display the current kernel routing table? (Choose two.)
route show
Why wrong: Invalid command; 'route' without options shows routing table, but 'route show' is not standard.
cat /proc/net/route
Why wrong: Raw file, not a command, and output is not human-friendly for quick troubleshooting.
ip route show
iproute2 command to view routing table.
ifconfig -a
Why wrong: Shows interface addresses and flags, not routing table.
netstat -rn
Displays kernel routing table.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ip route show
The `ip route show` command (from the iproute2 suite) displays the current kernel routing table in a structured, human-readable format. It is the modern replacement for legacy tools like `route` and `netstat`, and it directly reads routing information from the kernel's FIB (Forwarding Information Base).
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.
route show
Why it's wrong here
Invalid command; 'route' without options shows routing table, but 'route show' is not standard.
cat /proc/net/route
Why it's wrong here
Raw file, not a command, and output is not human-friendly for quick troubleshooting.
ip route show
Why this is correct
iproute2 command to view routing table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ifconfig -a
Why it's wrong here
Shows interface addresses and flags, not routing table.
netstat -rn
Why this is correct
Displays kernel routing table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `route show` (which is invalid) with the valid `route -n` command, or they mistakenly think `ifconfig -a` displays routing information instead of interface configuration.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Invalid command; 'route' without options shows routing table, but 'route show' is not standard.
Detailed technical explanation
The kernel routing table is stored in the FIB, which is managed by the IPv4 and IPv6 routing subsystems. The `ip route show` command queries the FIB via netlink sockets (RTNETLINK), providing detailed attributes such as metric, scope, protocol, and nexthop information. In contrast, `netstat -rn` reads from `/proc/net/route` and `/proc/net/ipv6_route` but formats the output into a readable table; however, `netstat` is deprecated in many distributions in favor of `ip route`.
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
Advanced Networking Configuration — This question tests Advanced Networking Configuration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ip route show — The `ip route show` command (from the iproute2 suite) displays the current kernel routing table in a structured, human-readable format. It is the modern replacement for legacy tools like `route` and `netstat`, and it directly reads routing information from the kernel's FIB (Forwarding Information Base).
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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