LPIC-1 Exam 101 v5 (Linux Administrator) — Question 115

When booting from the hard disk, a computer successfully loads the Linux kernel and initramfs but hangs during the subsequent startup tasks. The system is booted using a Linux based rescue CD to investigate the problem. Which of the following methods helps to identify the root cause of the problem?

Answer options

• A. Using the dmesg command from the rescue CD's shell to view the original system's boot logs.
• B. Investigating the file /proc/kmsg on the computer's hard disk for possible errors.
• C. Investigating the file /var/log on the computer's hard disk for possible errors.
• D. Using chroot to switch to the file system on the hard disk and use dmesg to view the logs.
• E. Rebooting again from the hard drive since the system successfully booted from the rescue CD.

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is C because the /var/log directory contains important log files that can provide insight into errors that occurred during the boot process. Option A is less effective since it relies on logs that may not reflect the current state after the hang. Option B is incorrect as /proc/kmsg is a virtual file that may not hold useful historical logs. Option D, while useful, requires more steps and may not directly address the problem compared to checking /var/log. Option E is unhelpful as it merely suggests restarting without further investigation.