LPIC-2 System Security Practice Question
Which two of the following are valid methods to authenticate with OpenVPN? (Select two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse external authentication integrations (like LDAP or RADIUS) with OpenVPN's native authentication methods, which are strictly static key and TLS/SSL certificates as defined in its core protocol.
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
✓
Static key
OpenVPN supports static key authentication (option D) as a simple pre-shared secret method where both client and server use the same key to encrypt and authenticate traffic. This is valid but less secure than certificate-based methods, as it lacks perfect forward secrecy and individual revocation capabilities.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
LDAP
Why it's wrong here
LDAP authentication is possible via a plugin, but not a native method.
- ✗
RADIUS
Why it's wrong here
RADIUS authentication is possible via a plugin, but not native.
- ✗
NIS
Why it's wrong here
NIS is not a supported authentication method for OpenVPN.
- ✓
Static key
Why this is correct
Static key authentication uses a pre-shared key between client and server.
- ✓
TLS/SSL certificates
Why this is correct
Certificate-based authentication is the most common method in OpenVPN.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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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.