Introduction

Linux is a popular operating system known for its performance, reliability, and security. It’s a popular choice for servers, desktops, and embedded devices. Understanding key topics and typical questions can be important while preparing for a Linux job interview. This blog post will discuss the top 15 Linux interview questions and answers to help you prepare efficiently.

Linux Interview Questions

 

Top 15 Linux Interview Questions and Answers

Prepare for your Linux job interview with confidence using these Top 15 Questions and Answers. This guide covers essential topics, from basic concepts to advanced commands, helping you showcase your Linux expertise effectively.

Ques 1. What is Linux?

Linux Interview Questions

Ans. Linux is an open-source, Unix-like operating system kernel that serves as the base for many distributions, including Ubuntu, CentOS, and Fedora. It is renowned for its durability, security features, and adaptability. Linux is widely used on servers, desktop computers, and embedded devices.

Ques 2. Explain the difference between Linux and Unix.

Ans. Linux and Unix are similar in many ways as Linux was inspired by Unix. However, Linux is open-source and freely available, while Unix is a proprietary operating system. Unix systems are typically more rigid and commercial, whereas Linux offers greater flexibility and community support.

Ques 3. Explain the Linux file system hierarchy?

Ans. The Linux file system hierarchy is structured as follows:

/: Root directory
/bin: Essential user binaries
/boot: Boot loader files
/dev: Device files
/etc: Configuration files
/home: User home directories
/lib: Shared libraries
/media: Mount points for removable media
/mnt: Temporary mount points
/opt: Optional application software
/proc: Kernel and process information
/root: Root user’s home directory
/sbin : System binaries
/srv: Service data
/tmp: Temporary files
/usr: User programs and data
/var: Variable data (logs, spools)

Ques 4. Explain the different types of Linux distributions.

Ans. Linux distributions (distros) are variants of the Linux operating system that are suited to specific requirements. Common types include:

  • Debian-based: Ubuntu, Debian.
  • Red Hat-based: CentOS, Fedora, and RHEL.
  • SUSE-based: openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise.
  • Arch-based: Arch Linux and Manjaro.

Ques 5. How does Linux handle file permissions?

Ans. Access to files and folders is controlled by Linux’s permission scheme. Permissions are defined for the owner, group, and others, and they include read (r), write (w), and execute (x). Permissions are set with the chmod command, and ownership is handled via “chown” and “chgrp”.

Ques 6. Explain the purpose of the “grep” command.

Ans. The “grep” command looks for certain patterns within files. It finds text that matches a regular expression in file contents, making it helpful for examining logs and configuration files.

Ques 7. What is the use of the “sudo” Command?

Ans. The “sudo” command enables a permitted user to run commands as another user, usually the root user, with higher capabilities. It is widely used for administrative activities requiring root access.

Ques 8. Explain the “process” in Linux.

Ans. A process is a program that is currently being executed. It provides the program’s code, current activity, and condition. Processes can be handled with commands such as ps, top, and kill.

Ques 9. What are Linux runlevels?

Ans. Runlevels are system states that define which services are available. Common run levels include:

0: Halt
1: Single-user mode
2: Multi-user mode without network services
3: Multi-user mode with network services
5: Multi-user mode with a graphical interface
6: Reboot

Ques 10. What is the “cron” daemon?

Ans. The cron daemon is a time-based task scheduler that runs scheduled commands or scripts at regular intervals. Jobs are defined in a crontab file, and cron runs them automatically.

Ques 11. What are symbolic links, and how are they different from hard links?

Ans. Symbolic links (symlinks) are pointers to files or directories that can exist in multiple file systems. In contrast, hard links are additional directory entries for the same file on the same file system. Hard links have the same inode, whereas symlinks have a separate one.

Ques 12. How do you get the system’s IP address?

Ans. You may obtain the system’s IP address by running the ip command (ip addr show) or the ifconfig command (on older systems). For example, ip addr show will list all network interfaces and their IP addresses.

Ques 13. Explain the “tar” command and its common options.

Ans. The “tar” command is used to create and manage archive files. Common choices include:

-c: Create a new archive
-x: Extract files from an archive
-v: Verbose output (list files being processed)
-f: Specify the filename of the archive
-z: Compress with gzip
-j: Compress with bzip2

Ques 14. What is the kernel in Linux?

Ans. The kernel is the central component of the Linux operating system, in charge of managing system resources, hardware interactions, process scheduling, and system calls. It works as a bridge between hardware and user applications.

Ques 15. How does one inspect system logs in Linux?

Ans. System logs can be seen in the /var/log/ directory or by using the journalctl command on systems that use systemd. Common log files are /var/log/syslog and /var/log/messages.

Conclusion

Understanding key concepts, commands, and system administration chores is essential when preparing for a Linux interview. Mastering these Top 15 Linux Interview Questions will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge and suitability for a Linux-related position. Whether you’re a beginner or want to brush up on your Linux knowledge, these questions cover the essentials.

Hope you like our blog content. We have included well-researched questions and answers in this blog by which you can crack your interview in one go. For more information related to the same do visit our site blogs section where you will clear all your doubts on each IT related topics.

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