The answer is /etc/resolv.conf and /etc/systemd/resolved.conf. These two files are the core DNS resolver configuration files on Linux, with /etc/resolv.conf serving as the traditional, universally recognized file where you manually specify nameserver IP addresses and search domains, while /etc/systemd/resolved.conf is the configuration file for the systemd-resolved service, which manages DNS resolution in a more dynamic, network-manager-integrated fashion on modern distributions. On the LPIC-2 exam, this question tests your understanding of both legacy and contemporary DNS resolution management, often appearing in the "Network Configuration" domain. A common trap is to overlook /etc/systemd/resolved.conf because many candidates focus solely on /etc/resolv.conf, but systemd-based systems now rely heavily on the resolved service. A useful memory tip: think of "resolv.conf" as the old-school manual override, and "resolved.conf" as the modern systemd-managed counterpart—if you see "systemd" in the path, it’s the new way.
LPIC-2 Network Client Management Practice Question
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of network client management. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 configuration files are commonly used to specify DNS resolver settings on a Linux system? (Select TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
/etc/systemd/resolved.conf
Option B is correct because /etc/systemd/resolved.conf is the configuration file for systemd-resolved, a service that manages DNS resolution on modern Linux systems. Option C is correct because /etc/resolv.conf is the traditional configuration file for specifying DNS resolver settings, including nameserver addresses and search domains, and is still widely used.
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.
✗
/etc/nsswitch.conf
Why it's wrong here
Controls the order of name resolution services, not DNS server addresses.
✓
/etc/systemd/resolved.conf
Why this is correct
Configuration file for systemd-resolved, which can manage DNS settings.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
/etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf
Why it's wrong here
DHCP client configuration; can override DNS but is not a DNS resolver configuration file itself.
✗
/etc/hosts
Why it's wrong here
Static hostname-to-IP mapping file, not DNS resolver configuration.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse /etc/nsswitch.conf with DNS resolver configuration, but it only controls the lookup order (e.g., 'hosts: files dns') and does not contain nameserver addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, /etc/resolv.conf is parsed by the glibc resolver library (resolv) to determine which DNS servers to query and in what order, while systemd-resolved can act as a local DNS stub resolver, caching responses and forwarding queries to upstream servers. In real-world scenarios, systemd-resolved may dynamically update /etc/resolv.conf via a symlink to /run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf, which can cause confusion when manually editing the file. The glibc resolver also supports options like timeout and attempts, which are specified in /etc/resolv.conf and affect DNS query behavior.
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 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
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.
Network Client Management — This question tests Network Client Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: /etc/systemd/resolved.conf — Option B is correct because /etc/systemd/resolved.conf is the configuration file for systemd-resolved, a service that manages DNS resolution on modern Linux systems. Option C is correct because /etc/resolv.conf is the traditional configuration file for specifying DNS resolver settings, including nameserver addresses and search domains, and is still widely used.
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.
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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
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