EX200 Deploy, configure, and maintain systems Practice Question
A technician needs to configure a network interface to use a static IP address permanently. Which command should be used in RHEL 9?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates familiar with older RHEL versions (e.g., RHEL 7 or 8) may still expect the legacy `ifcfg-*` files to work, but RHEL 9 has fully transitioned to NetworkManager keyfiles, making `nmcli` the correct persistent tool.
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
✓
nmcli
`nmcli` is the primary command-line tool for managing NetworkManager in RHEL 9, and it allows you to configure a static IP address persistently. Using `nmcli con mod` followed by the connection name and IP settings ensures the configuration survives reboots, as NetworkManager stores the settings in its own configuration files.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ip
Why it's wrong here
The `ip` command (e.g., `ip addr add`) directly changes the live kernel network configuration, but these changes exist only until reboot or network stack restart. It does not write any configuration files or interact with NetworkManager profiles, so the address is lost when the system restarts. To make a persistent change, you must wrap it in a script or use NetworkManager's `nmcli`.
- ✗
vi /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0
Why it's wrong here
Editing `/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0` with `vi` is a legacy method that relies on the deprecated network-scripts package and is not the default in RHEL 9. Even if the file is present and NetworkManager reads it, simply editing the file does not apply the settings; you would still need to reload the NetworkManager connection (e.g., `nmcli con reload` or `nmcli con up eth0`). The standard RHEL 9 workflow is to use `nmcli` directly, which both updates the configuration and activates it.
- ✓
nmcli
Why this is correct
`nmcli` is the correct tool because it interacts with NetworkManager, the default network management service on RHEL 9. Commands like `nmcli con modify eth0 ipv4.addresses 192.0.2.10/24` and `nmcli con up eth0` make changes persist in the connection profile automatically. It also validates the configuration and applies it without requiring a reboot, making it the supported method for permanent network interface configuration.
- ✗
ifconfig
Why it's wrong here
`ifconfig` is an obsolete tool from the net-tools package that is deprecated and often not even installed by default on RHEL 9. It can set temporary IP addresses on an interface, but it has no awareness of NetworkManager connection profiles and provides no persistence across reboots. Unlike `nmcli`, it cannot manage connection properties such as default routes, DNS, or DHCP settings, and its use is discouraged in favor of `ip` or `nmcli`.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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