Linux · systemd & Boot interview questions

60 real Linux · systemd & Boot questions from the System Administration bank, as asked in Indian campus drives and tech interviews. Every question has a verified answer and an AI-tutor explanation on placd — free to start.

1. What does systemctl enable X do?

Junior
  1. A.list services by how long they took to start at boot
  2. B.set the default boot target to graphical
  3. C.make service X impossible to start (symlink to /dev/null)
  4. D.make service X start automatically at boot
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3. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.systemctl enable X — reload systemd after editing unit files
  2. B.systemctl enable X — show a service's state, PID and recent log lines
  3. C.systemctl enable X — stop and start service X in one step
  4. D.systemctl enable X — make service X start automatically at boot
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4. What does systemctl start X do?

Junior
  1. A.report whether service X is currently running
  2. B.list services by how long they took to start at boot
  3. C.start service X immediately
  4. D.stop and start service X in one step
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6. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.systemctl start X — stop and start service X in one step
  2. B.systemctl start X — reload systemd after editing unit files
  3. C.systemctl start X — show a service's state, PID and recent log lines
  4. D.systemctl start X — start service X immediately
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7. What does systemctl mask X do?

Mid
  1. A.switch the running system to the multi-user target
  2. B.start service X immediately
  3. C.stop and start service X in one step
  4. D.make service X impossible to start (symlink to /dev/null)
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9. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.systemctl mask X — show a service's state, PID and recent log lines
  2. B.systemctl mask X — list services by how long they took to start at boot
  3. C.systemctl mask X — report whether service X is currently running
  4. D.systemctl mask X — make service X impossible to start (symlink to /dev/null)
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10. What does systemctl status X do?

Junior
  1. A.stop and start service X in one step
  2. B.show a service's state, PID and recent log lines
  3. C.reload systemd after editing unit files
  4. D.report whether service X is currently running
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12. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.systemctl status X — stop and start service X in one step
  2. B.systemctl status X — show a service's state, PID and recent log lines
  3. C.systemctl status X — make service X impossible to start (symlink to /dev/null)
  4. D.systemctl status X — list units that have failed
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15. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.systemctl daemon-reload — reload systemd after editing unit files
  2. B.systemctl daemon-reload — report whether service X is currently running
  3. C.systemctl daemon-reload — start service X immediately
  4. D.systemctl daemon-reload — set the default boot target to graphical
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16. What does systemd-analyze blame do?

Mid
  1. A.set the default boot target to graphical
  2. B.make service X impossible to start (symlink to /dev/null)
  3. C.list services by how long they took to start at boot
  4. D.start service X immediately
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18. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.systemd-analyze blame — show a service's state, PID and recent log lines
  2. B.systemd-analyze blame — list services by how long they took to start at boot
  3. C.systemd-analyze blame — switch the running system to the multi-user target
  4. D.systemd-analyze blame — make service X start automatically at boot
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19. What is systemd target?

Junior
  1. A.a grouping of units roughly equivalent to a runlevel (e.g. multi-user)
  2. B.a temporary root filesystem loaded to mount the real root during boot
  3. C.an unrecoverable kernel error that halts the system
  4. D.the bootloader that loads the Linux kernel and initramfs
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21. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.systemd target — UEFI is the modern firmware (GPT, Secure Boot); BIOS is the legacy firmware (MBR)
  2. B.systemd target — the bootloader that loads the Linux kernel and initramfs
  3. C.systemd target — an unrecoverable kernel error that halts the system
  4. D.systemd target — a grouping of units roughly equivalent to a runlevel (e.g. multi-user)
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22. What is initramfs?

Mid
  1. A.a unit that starts a service on demand when its socket is accessed
  2. B.an unrecoverable kernel error that halts the system
  3. C.a temporary root filesystem loaded to mount the real root during boot
  4. D.UEFI is the modern firmware (GPT, Secure Boot); BIOS is the legacy firmware (MBR)
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24. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.initramfs — a unit that starts a service on demand when its socket is accessed
  2. B.initramfs — a grouping of units roughly equivalent to a runlevel (e.g. multi-user)
  3. C.initramfs — a minimal single-user mode for system recovery
  4. D.initramfs — a temporary root filesystem loaded to mount the real root during boot
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25. What is GRUB2?

Mid
  1. A.a minimal single-user mode for system recovery
  2. B.a grouping of units roughly equivalent to a runlevel (e.g. multi-user)
  3. C.the bootloader that loads the Linux kernel and initramfs
  4. D.a temporary root filesystem loaded to mount the real root during boot
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27. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.GRUB2 — a grouping of units roughly equivalent to a runlevel (e.g. multi-user)
  2. B.GRUB2 — the bootloader that loads the Linux kernel and initramfs
  3. C.GRUB2 — a temporary root filesystem loaded to mount the real root during boot
  4. D.GRUB2 — a service that signals readiness to systemd via sd_notify
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28. What does systemctl restart X do?

Junior
  1. A.make service X impossible to start (symlink to /dev/null)
  2. B.make service X start automatically at boot
  3. C.list services by how long they took to start at boot
  4. D.stop and start service X in one step
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30. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.systemctl restart X — list units that have failed
  2. B.systemctl restart X — list services by how long they took to start at boot
  3. C.systemctl restart X — set the default boot target to graphical
  4. D.systemctl restart X — stop and start service X in one step
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