I85PREP
⌘ K
BCCITB study materials
BCCITB study resources

BCCITB practice questions

One question at a time. Build your BCCITB understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which component performs the main arithmetic and logical operations in a computer and is often described as the CPU's processing core?

  1. The memory controller
  2. The power supply unit
  3. The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) Correct answer.
  4. The hard disk controller

Explanation

The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is the part of the processor that executes integer arithmetic and Boolean logic operations. Other units move data or manage power, but the ALU is where computation on operands actually happens.

Question 2IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which type of memory is volatile, meaning its contents are lost when power is removed?

  1. Optical disc
  2. DRAM Correct answer.
  3. ROM
  4. NAND flash

Explanation

Dynamic RAM (DRAM) stores each bit as charge in a capacitor and requires constant refreshing, so its contents disappear once power is removed. ROM, flash and optical media retain data without power.

Question 3IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A workstation needs a drive that offers the highest sequential read throughput for large video files. Which storage technology should be selected?

  1. 7200 RPM SATA hard disk drive
  2. USB 2.0 external flash drive
  3. NVMe solid-state drive on a PCIe 4.0 interface Correct answer.
  4. DVD-RW optical drive

Explanation

An NVMe SSD attached over PCIe bypasses the older SATA and AHCI bottlenecks and delivers the highest sequential throughput among these choices. Spinning disks and USB 2.0 flash are limited by mechanical latency and a 480 Mbit/s bus respectively.

Question 4IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

What is the primary purpose of a computer's basic input/output system (BIOS) or UEFI firmware during startup?

  1. To compile application source code into machine code
  2. To encrypt files stored on the hard disk
  3. To initialize hardware and locate a bootable device Correct answer.
  4. To provide the graphical user interface of the operating system

Explanation

Firmware stored on the motherboard runs at power-on, performs the power-on self-test, initializes essential hardware and then hands control to a bootloader on a bootable device. It does not provide the desktop environment or compile programs.

Question 5IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which expansion interface is designed primarily for connecting a discrete graphics card to a motherboard?

  1. SATA III
  2. USB-C
  3. RJ45
  4. PCI Express x16 Correct answer.

Explanation

A PCI Express x16 slot provides the wide, high-bandwidth link that graphics cards use for their main connection to the system. SATA, USB-C and RJ45 are peripheral and network interfaces with far less bandwidth.

Question 6IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which connector is most commonly used to supply power from the power supply unit directly to a modern graphics card?

  1. SATA power connector
  2. 24-pin ATX main connector
  3. 8-pin PCIe power connector Correct answer.
  4. 4-pin Molex floppy connector

Explanation

Graphics cards draw supplementary power through dedicated 6-pin or 8-pin PCIe power connectors because the slot alone cannot deliver enough wattage. The 24-pin connector powers the motherboard, while SATA and floppy connectors feed drives.

Question 7IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

What does the acronym SSD stand for in the context of computer storage?

  1. Secure Storage Device
  2. Serial Storage Disk
  3. Solid-State Drive Correct answer.
  4. System Startup Drive

Explanation

SSD stands for solid-state drive, a storage device built from flash memory with no moving parts. The other expansions are invented terms that do not describe this technology.

Question 8IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which unit of measure is used to describe the clock speed of a modern processor?

  1. Gigabit
  2. Gigaflop
  3. Gigahertz Correct answer.
  4. Gigabyte

Explanation

Clock speed expresses how many cycles a processor completes per second, and gigahertz means billions of cycles per second. Gigabyte and gigabit measure data quantity, while gigaflop measures floating-point throughput.

Question 9IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A technician installs two identical 8 GB DDR4 modules but the system reports only 8 GB usable. Which cause is most likely?

  1. The modules are installed in a configuration or slots that the motherboard does not support for dual-channel operation Correct answer.
  2. The monitor resolution is set too high
  3. The power supply wattage is too low
  4. The CPU lacks an integrated graphics unit

Explanation

When only one module is detected, the usual causes are an unsupported slot population, a module not fully seated, or a mismatch in the memory map. Checking the motherboard's slot-population rules and reseating the modules is the correct diagnostic path.

Question 10IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which statement best describes the difference between a hardware interrupt and polling?

  1. Interrupts let a device signal the CPU to request service, whereas polling has the CPU repeatedly check device status Correct answer.
  2. Polling lets a device signal the CPU, whereas interrupts require the CPU to check devices repeatedly
  3. Both techniques require the device to write directly into main memory without CPU involvement
  4. Polling is used only for network cards, while interrupts are used only for keyboards

Explanation

An interrupt is an asynchronous signal that causes the CPU to suspend its current work and run a handler. Polling instead has the processor check device status registers at intervals, which wastes cycles when devices are idle.

Question 11IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which file system is the native default for current Windows installations and supports features such as journaling and access control lists?

  1. ext4
  2. NTFS Correct answer.
  3. HFS+
  4. ISO 9660

Explanation

NTFS is the default file system for modern Windows volumes and provides journaling, permissions and encryption support. ext4 and HFS+ belong to Linux and older macOS respectively, and ISO 9660 is an optical disc format.

Question 12IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A user reports that a desktop powers on, fans spin, but no image appears and the motherboard emits a repeating beep pattern. What is the most appropriate first step?

  1. Replace the hard disk drive
  2. Replace the power supply unit immediately
  3. Reinstall the operating system from installation media
  4. Consult the motherboard manual to decode the beep code, then reseat memory and check the display connection Correct answer.

Explanation

Beep patterns are firmware error codes whose meaning is defined by the motherboard or BIOS vendor, so the manual must be consulted before parts are swapped. Reseating RAM and verifying the display cable are low-cost checks that match the most common POST failures.

Question 13IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

What is the main advantage of symmetric multiprocessing over a single-core design?

  1. It eliminates the need for cache memory
  2. It guarantees that every program runs faster without modification
  3. It allows multiple processors to execute threads concurrently under one operating system Correct answer.
  4. It removes the need for an operating system scheduler

Explanation

Symmetric multiprocessing places two or more equivalent processors under a single operating system, which can schedule threads across them concurrently. Speedups depend on how well the workload can be parallelized, so no blanket guarantee applies.

Question 14IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which virtual memory mechanism translates a program's virtual address into a physical memory address?

  1. The arithmetic logic unit using registers
  2. The interrupt controller using vectors
  3. The memory management unit using page tables Correct answer.
  4. The direct memory access controller using descriptors

Explanation

The memory management unit consults page tables maintained by the operating system to map virtual pages to physical frames, and a translation lookaside buffer caches recent entries. The ALU, DMA engine and interrupt controller serve unrelated functions.

Question 15IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which RAID level provides disk mirroring by writing identical data to two drives?

  1. RAID 1 Correct answer.
  2. RAID 0
  3. RAID 5
  4. RAID 6

Explanation

RAID 1 mirrors data across paired drives so that either member can satisfy a read and survive the loss of the other. RAID 0 stripes without redundancy, while RAID 5 and 6 use parity for protection.

Question 16IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A user wants a laptop that can run a full desktop operating system and heavy engineering software while travelling. Which specification matters most for sustained performance?

  1. Number of USB ports
  2. Screen brightness in nits
  3. Processor model, thermal design and available RAM Correct answer.
  4. Weight in kilograms

Explanation

Sustained performance depends on the processor, how well the chassis can dissipate heat, and sufficient RAM to avoid paging under heavy workloads. Brightness, port count and weight affect usability but not compute capability.

Question 17IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

What is the function of the translation lookaside buffer in a processor?

  1. It stores the boot loader image
  2. It buffers keyboard scan codes
  3. It caches recently used virtual-to-physical address translations Correct answer.
  4. It holds the firmware configuration settings

Explanation

The translation lookaside buffer is a small, fast cache of page-table entries that avoids a full page-table walk for recently accessed addresses. Firmware settings and boot code live in non-volatile storage, not in this structure.

Question 18IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which practice best protects data on a laptop that may be lost or stolen?

  1. Using a shorter screen-saver timeout only
  2. Disabling the firewall to improve throughput
  3. Enabling full-disk encryption tied to a pre-boot authentication step Correct answer.
  4. Keeping the battery fully charged at all times

Explanation

Full-disk encryption protects data at rest, and requiring pre-boot authentication prevents an attacker from reading the volume even if the drive is removed. The other measures affect performance or power but not confidentiality.

Question 19IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A computer's CMOS battery fails. Which symptom is most directly expected?

  1. The network adapter stops supporting gigabit speeds
  2. All files on the hard disk become corrupted
  3. The processor permanently runs at half its rated clock speed
  4. The system date and time reset and firmware settings are lost after power-off Correct answer.

Explanation

The small battery maintains the real-time clock and volatile firmware settings when the system is unplugged. When it fails, the clock resets and customized settings revert to defaults at each cold start.

Question 20IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which interface standard allows a single cable to carry video, data and up to 100 W of power to a peripheral?

  1. VGA
  2. USB-C with Power Delivery Correct answer.
  3. PS/2
  4. DVI-D

Explanation

USB-C with Power Delivery can negotiate up to 100 W and, in alternate mode, carry DisplayPort or other video signals alongside data. VGA, PS/2 and DVI-D carry neither general data nor power delivery.

Question 21IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A server reports correctable memory errors at an increasing rate. Which type of memory is designed to detect and correct such single-bit errors?

  1. Cache SRAM without parity
  2. ECC memory Correct answer.
  3. GDDR6 graphics memory
  4. Unbuffered non-ECC DIMMs

Explanation

Error-correcting code memory stores extra check bits that let the memory controller detect and correct single-bit errors and detect many multi-bit errors. Non-ECC modules and graphics memory lack this capability.

Question 22IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which statement accurately distinguishes a Type 1 hypervisor from a Type 2 hypervisor?

  1. A Type 1 hypervisor runs directly on the hardware, while a Type 2 hypervisor runs as an application on a host operating system Correct answer.
  2. A Type 1 hypervisor requires a host operating system, while a Type 2 hypervisor runs on bare metal
  3. A Type 1 hypervisor provides no isolation between guests, while a Type 2 hypervisor provides full isolation
  4. A Type 1 hypervisor can host only Windows guests, while a Type 2 hypervisor can host only Linux guests

Explanation

A Type 1 hypervisor, also called bare-metal, runs directly on the hardware and manages guest operating systems itself. A Type 2 hypervisor is installed as software on top of a conventional host operating system.

Question 23IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A developer needs a build machine to compile a large project repeatedly with maximum throughput. Which combination of components most directly targets this workload?

  1. A large hard disk, a low-wattage power supply and a basic graphics adapter
  2. A tape drive, a serial port card and a dial-up modem
  3. A high-core-count CPU, fast NVMe storage and ample ECC RAM Correct answer.
  4. A high-refresh-rate monitor, a gaming mouse and a sound card

Explanation

Compilation is CPU- and I/O-intensive, so many cores, low-latency NVMe storage and sufficient memory to hold build artifacts and caches give the largest gains. Peripherals and legacy interfaces do not affect build throughput.

Question 24IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

Which explanation best describes why adding cache memory between the CPU and main memory improves performance?

  1. Cache exploits locality of reference by keeping frequently used data in faster memory close to the CPU Correct answer.
  2. Cache converts virtual addresses into physical addresses without page tables
  3. Cache increases the capacity of main memory so fewer pages are needed
  4. Cache eliminates the need for a memory management unit

Explanation

Programs tend to reuse the same data and instructions, so a small fast cache can satisfy most accesses and avoid the long latency of main memory. Cache does not enlarge main memory or replace address translation.

Question 25IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A system with 32-bit addressing and 4 KiB pages uses two-level paging. Why does a single-level page table become impractical in this design?

  1. Because pages larger than 4 KiB are not permitted in 32-bit mode
  2. Because 32-bit systems cannot use page tables at all
  3. Because the TLB cannot be used with single-level tables
  4. Because a single-level table would need roughly one million entries per process, consuming several megabytes even for sparse address spaces Correct answer.

Explanation

With 4 KiB pages, a 32-bit address space contains about one million pages, so a flat table needs about a million entries per process regardless of how much memory is actually used. Multi-level paging lets unused regions be omitted, saving memory.

Question 26IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A desktop technician is choosing a storage drive for an operating system that must boot quickly and tolerate the vibration of a moving cart. Which characteristic of a solid-state drive makes it the better choice than a hard disk drive in this situation?

  1. It stores data in flash memory with no moving parts, so access is fast and shock resistant Correct answer.
  2. It requires no power connection because it draws energy from the data cable
  3. It uses spinning platters that are sealed against dust and vibration
  4. It writes data magnetically to a removable cartridge that can be swapped during use

Explanation

Solid-state drives store data in NAND flash memory, so they have no platters, spindle, or actuator arm. Removing moving parts gives near-instant random access and makes the drive far more resistant to shock and vibration than a hard disk drive. This is why SSDs suit portable or vehicle-mounted systems and give faster boot times.

Question 27IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A computer's motherboard specification lists support for DDR4 memory. Which statement explains why a DDR5 module cannot simply be installed in that board?

  1. DDR5 modules run at a lower voltage and would be permanently damaged by the DDR4 slot
  2. DDR5 is only used in servers, while DDR4 is used in desktop and laptop systems
  3. DDR4 and DDR5 modules are physically identical and differ only in firmware
  4. The memory controller and slot keying differ between generations, so the module will not fit or be recognized Correct answer.

Explanation

Each DDR generation uses a different notch position and pin layout, and the memory controller supports only specific generations. A DDR5 module therefore will not seat correctly in a DDR4 slot, and a board that accepted it would still lack controller support. Memory generation must match the motherboard and processor specification.

Question 28IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A user reports that a laptop connected to a wired network cannot reach any website, but the same laptop works on Wi-Fi. The Ethernet adapter shows a link light and an address of 169.254.37.12. Which action most directly addresses the cause?

  1. Check that the DHCP service on the wired network is reachable and renew the lease Correct answer.
  2. Lower the MTU setting on the Ethernet adapter
  3. Replace the Ethernet cable with a higher category cable
  4. Disable the wireless adapter so only one connection is active

Explanation

An address in the 169.254.0.0/16 range is a link-local address that Windows assigns when no DHCP server responds. The link light confirms physical connectivity, so the fault lies in obtaining a lease rather than in the cable. Renewing the lease after confirming DHCP availability restores routable configuration.

Question 29IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A workstation with 16 GB of RAM runs several large applications and the user notices the disk activity light stays on while switching between them. Performance Monitor shows a high rate of hard page faults. Which upgrade most directly reduces this bottleneck?

  1. A larger power supply with higher wattage
  2. A faster graphics card with more video memory
  3. A second monitor to spread the windows across
  4. Additional RAM to hold the working sets of the active applications Correct answer.

Explanation

Hard page faults occur when a needed page is not in physical memory and must be read from disk, which is far slower than RAM. Adding RAM lets more of each application's working set stay resident, cutting the paging traffic and the disk activity. The graphics card, power supply, and displays do not hold process working sets.

Question 30IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware

A technician must connect an external display that supports 4K resolution at 60 Hz to a laptop. The laptop has one HDMI 1.4 port and one USB-C port that carries DisplayPort alternate mode. Which choice meets the requirement, and why?

  1. Use the USB-C port in DisplayPort alternate mode, because HDMI 1.4 lacks the bandwidth for 4K at 60 Hz Correct answer.
  2. Use either port, because the cable determines the refresh rate rather than the port
  3. Use the HDMI 1.4 port with a passive adapter, because adapters add the missing bandwidth
  4. Use the HDMI 1.4 port, because HDMI always supports 4K at 60 Hz

Explanation

HDMI 1.4 has roughly 10.2 Gbps of bandwidth, which supports 4K only at about 30 Hz. DisplayPort over USB-C alternate mode provides enough bandwidth for 4K at 60 Hz. Choosing the port with adequate bandwidth is what satisfies the refresh-rate requirement.

Question 31Operating Systems and Software

A technician is installing software on a Linux server and wants the package manager to resolve and install all dependencies automatically from configured repositories. Which command accomplishes this on a Debian-based distribution?

  1. apt-get install <package> Correct answer.
  2. make install
  3. dpkg -i <package>.deb
  4. tar -xvf <package>.tar.gz

Explanation

apt-get works with the APT layer above dpkg and pulls in dependencies from configured repositories automatically. dpkg only installs a local archive and does not fetch missing dependencies. Source archives and Makefiles require manual build steps and no dependency resolution.

Question 32Operating Systems and Software

On a systemd-based Linux host, an administrator wants a service to start automatically at boot after it has been enabled. Which command enables a unit without starting it immediately?

  1. systemctl start <unit>
  2. systemctl enable <unit> Correct answer.
  3. systemctl mask <unit>
  4. systemctl status <unit>

Explanation

systemctl enable creates the symlinks in the appropriate target's wants directory so the unit starts at boot, but it does not start the unit right now. start activates the unit in the current session only. mask makes the unit impossible to start at all.

Question 33Operating Systems and Software

A user reports that a process appears frozen in a Linux terminal. Which signal should be sent first to request a graceful termination that allows the process to clean up resources?

  1. SIGSTOP
  2. SIGHUP
  3. SIGTERM Correct answer.
  4. SIGKILL

Explanation

SIGTERM is the default termination request and can be caught by the process so it can flush buffers and release resources before exiting. SIGKILL cannot be caught and forces immediate termination. SIGSTOP merely suspends the process.

Question 34Operating Systems and Software

Which Windows tool is used to review the recorded events of application crashes and system service failures?

  1. Disk Management
  2. Task Manager
  3. Event Viewer Correct answer.
  4. Device Manager

Explanation

Event Viewer presents the Windows event logs, including Application and System logs that record crashes, service failures, and related errors. Task Manager shows live process and performance data, not historical event records.

Question 35Operating Systems and Software

A Linux administrator needs to identify which process is listening on TCP port 443. Which command most directly lists listening sockets along with their owning processes?

  1. uptime
  2. df -h
  3. ps aux
  4. ss -tlnp Correct answer.

Explanation

ss -tlnp shows TCP listening sockets with the process information when run with sufficient privileges. ps aux lists processes but not the sockets they hold. df and uptime report storage and load respectively.

Question 36Operating Systems and Software

Which file permission mode gives the owner read, write, and execute rights while granting group and others only read and execute?

  1. chmod 644 file
  2. chmod 700 file
  3. chmod 755 file Correct answer.
  4. chmod 777 file

Explanation

Mode 755 sets owner to rwx (7), group to r-x (5), and others to r-x (5). Mode 644 removes execute and write for group and others, and 700 removes all access for group and others.

Question 37Operating Systems and Software

In a virtual memory system, what is the primary purpose of a page table?

  1. To translate virtual addresses to physical addresses Correct answer.
  2. To schedule threads onto processor cores
  3. To store the contents of recently accessed files
  4. To encrypt data written to swap space

Explanation

The page table maps virtual page numbers to physical frame numbers so the memory management unit can translate addresses. File caching and thread scheduling are handled by other subsystems such as the page cache and scheduler.

Question 38Operating Systems and Software

A user needs to run a single command with elevated administrative privileges on a Linux system without starting a full root login shell. Which command is designed for this?

  1. chsh
  2. su -
  3. sudo <command> Correct answer.
  4. passwd

Explanation

sudo executes the specified command with elevated privileges according to the sudoers policy and then returns to the user's context. su - opens a full login shell as another user, which is broader than running one command.

Question 39Operating Systems and Software

An administrator wants to mount a filesystem described in /etc/fstab without rebooting. Which command reads the fstab entry and mounts it by mount point?

  1. mkfs.ext4 /data
  2. mount /data Correct answer.
  3. fsck /data
  4. blkid /data

Explanation

mount with a mount point argument consults /etc/fstab for the matching entry and mounts it accordingly. fsck checks filesystem integrity, mkfs creates a filesystem, and blkid reports device identifiers.

Question 40Operating Systems and Software

A process is spending most of its time waiting for disk I/O. Which process state best describes it on a Linux system?

  1. Runnable
  2. Zombie
  3. Uninterruptible sleep Correct answer.
  4. Running

Explanation

A process blocked in the kernel waiting for I/O is typically in uninterruptible sleep, shown as D in ps output. A runnable process is ready to use the CPU, and a zombie has finished but has not been reaped.

Question 41Operating Systems and Software

Which statement accurately distinguishes a thread from a process in a typical multitasking operating system?

  1. A process cannot contain more than one thread.
  2. Threads cannot be scheduled independently.
  3. Threads in the same process share the address space. Correct answer.
  4. Each thread has its own isolated address space.

Explanation

Threads within one process share the same virtual address space and open resources, which makes communication cheap but requires synchronization. Each process generally has its own isolated address space, and threads are the unit the scheduler dispatches.

Question 42Operating Systems and Software

A technician must deploy the same application configuration to 200 Windows workstations and wants centralized, policy-driven management from Active Directory. Which mechanism is most appropriate?

  1. Windows Registry exports
  2. Startup scripts placed in each user profile
  3. Group Policy Objects Correct answer.
  4. Local security policy on each host

Explanation

Group Policy Objects are linked in Active Directory and applied to targeted organizational units, allowing one definition to reach many machines. Local policies and per-profile scripts require manual work on each host, and registry exports are not centrally enforced.

Question 43Operating Systems and Software

A Linux server reports that the root filesystem is running out of space, but du shows little usage in /home. Which command helps identify large directories across the entire filesystem while staying on one filesystem?

  1. du -xh --max-depth=1 / Correct answer.
  2. mount
  3. ls -la /
  4. find / -name '*.log'

Explanation

du -x restricts traversal to a single filesystem and reports directory sizes, making it effective for locating space consumers. ls shows entries but not recursive sizes, and mount only lists mounted filesystems.

Question 44Operating Systems and Software

An application on a Linux host fails to start and the administrator suspects a missing shared library. Which command reports the shared libraries the binary depends on and whether they resolve?

  1. objdump -d /path/to/binary
  2. strace /path/to/binary
  3. nm /path/to/binary
  4. ldd /path/to/binary Correct answer.

Explanation

ldd lists the dynamic dependencies of an executable and shows whether each resolves to a path or is reported as not found. strace traces system calls at runtime, and objdump and nm inspect binary symbols rather than dependency resolution.

Question 45Operating Systems and Software

A Windows application requires a specific version of the .NET runtime that is not installed. What is the most appropriate first step to resolve the dependency?

  1. Convert the system disk to dynamic
  2. Disable Windows Update permanently
  3. Install the required runtime version from the vendor Correct answer.
  4. Delete the application's registry keys

Explanation

Installing the matching runtime version satisfies the dependency the application declares. Disabling updates, editing registry keys, or converting disks does not provide the missing runtime and may harm the system.

Question 46Operating Systems and Software

Which description correctly characterizes a Type 1 hypervisor?

  1. It only supports containers rather than virtual machines.
  2. It runs as an application on top of a general-purpose host OS.
  3. It requires a graphical desktop to function.
  4. It runs directly on the hardware without an underlying host OS. Correct answer.

Explanation

A Type 1 hypervisor executes directly on the hardware and manages guest virtual machines itself, which typically yields lower overhead. A Type 2 hypervisor runs atop a host operating system. Containers rely on OS-level isolation rather than a hypervisor.

Question 47Operating Systems and Software

An administrator observes that a Linux system is heavily swapping and response times have degraded. Which action best addresses the immediate symptom while preserving running workloads?

  1. Increase swap space on the same slow disk
  2. Disable swap entirely with swapoff
  3. Raise the process niceness of the kernel
  4. Add physical memory or reduce memory pressure from running services Correct answer.

Explanation

Heavy swapping indicates memory pressure, so adding RAM or reducing demand addresses the root cause while keeping workloads alive. Adding swap on a slow disk increases thrashing, and disabling swap can cause out-of-memory kills.

Question 48Operating Systems and Software

A script must run a cleanup task every night at 02:30 on a Linux server. Which crontab entry achieves this?

  1. 2 30 * * * /usr/local/bin/cleanup.sh
  2. * 2 30 * * /usr/local/bin/cleanup.sh
  3. 30 2 * * * /usr/local/bin/cleanup.sh Correct answer.
  4. 30 2 1 * * /usr/local/bin/cleanup.sh

Explanation

Cron fields are minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week, so 30 2 * * * means 02:30 every day. Swapping the first two fields schedules 30:02, and adding a day-of-month value restricts the run to one day per month.

Question 49Operating Systems and Software

Which Windows feature allows an administrator to run a program in an isolated environment with restricted filesystem and registry access for testing untrusted software?

  1. Remote Desktop
  2. BitLocker
  3. Windows Sandbox Correct answer.
  4. Storage Spaces

Explanation

Windows Sandbox provides a disposable, isolated desktop environment where untrusted software can run without affecting the host. BitLocker encrypts volumes, Storage Spaces pools disks, and Remote Desktop provides remote access.

Question 50Operating Systems and Software

A developer reports that a compiled program runs on one Linux server but fails with a version error on another. Which difference most likely explains this?

  1. The servers use different time zones
  2. The servers have different hostnames
  3. The shared library versions differ between the servers Correct answer.
  4. The two servers have different keyboard layouts

Explanation

Dynamically linked programs resolve symbols against the shared libraries present at runtime, so a different library version can cause version or symbol errors. Hostnames, keyboard layouts, and time zones do not affect library symbol resolution.