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About the test:

The System Administration test uses multiple-choice questions to evaluate candidates on their knowledge of system administration concepts and tools, including network administration, server management, security and access control, backup and recovery, troubleshooting, and scripting. The test aims to assess the candidate's ability to manage and maintain computer systems and networks, and ensure their optimal performance, security, and availability.

Covered skills:

  • Linux command line
  • User and group management
  • System monitoring and performance tuning
  • Security
  • Package management
  • File management
  • Process management
  • Network configuration
  • Shell scripting
  • Backup and restore

9 reasons why
9 reasons why

Adaface Linux System Administrator Test is the most accurate way to shortlist Linux System Administrators



Reason #1

Tests for on-the-job skills

The Linux System Administrator Online Test helps recruiters and hiring managers identify qualified candidates from a pool of resumes, and helps in taking objective hiring decisions. It reduces the administrative overhead of interviewing too many candidates and saves time by filtering out unqualified candidates at the first step of the hiring process.

The test screens for the following skills that hiring managers look for in candidates:

  • Proficient in Linux command line usage
  • Expertise in file management on Linux systems
  • Skilled in user and group management
  • Ability to manage processes effectively
  • Knowledge of system monitoring and performance tuning
  • Experience in configuring network settings
  • Familiarity with security measures on Linux systems
  • Proficiency in shell scripting
  • Understanding of package management
  • Capability to perform backup and restore operations
Reason #2

No trick questions

no trick questions

Traditional assessment tools use trick questions and puzzles for the screening, which creates a lot of frustration among candidates about having to go through irrelevant screening assessments.

View sample questions

The main reason we started Adaface is that traditional pre-employment assessment platforms are not a fair way for companies to evaluate candidates. At Adaface, our mission is to help companies find great candidates by assessing on-the-job skills required for a role.

Why we started Adaface
Reason #3

Non-googleable questions

We have a very high focus on the quality of questions that test for on-the-job skills. Every question is non-googleable and we have a very high bar for the level of subject matter experts we onboard to create these questions. We have crawlers to check if any of the questions are leaked online. If/ when a question gets leaked, we get an alert. We change the question for you & let you know.

How we design questions

These are just a small sample from our library of 10,000+ questions. The actual questions on this Linux System Administrator Test will be non-googleable.

🧐 Question

Medium

Swap space
Performance Analysis
Solve
A Linux administrator is responsible for monitoring system performance and adjusting memory configurations to ensure optimal resource usage. Consider the following output from the 'top' command:
 image
Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for improving system performance based on the given output?

A) Decrease the nice value of the 'httpd' process
B) Terminate the 'mysqld' process to free up system resources
C) Increase the total amount of RAM
D) Increase the size of the swap partition
E) Increase the nice value of the 'httpd' process to lower its priority

Medium

Debugging Issues
Environment Variables
Debugging
Solve
You are working on a Linux system and have recently installed a new program named myprogram. The executable is located in /opt/myprogram/bin/. You want to be able to run this program from any directory in your shell without specifying the full path.
You executed the following command:
export PATH="/opt/myprogram/bin"
However, when you try to run the program using myprogram, you get the following error message:
-bash: myprogram: command not found

Which of the following commands can fix this issue and allow you to run the program?
A: export PATH=$PATH:/opt/myprogram/bin/
B: export PATH="/opt/myprogram:$PATH"
C: export PATH="/opt/myprogram/bin:$PATH"
D: ln -s /opt/myprogram/bin/myprogram /usr/local/bin/myprogram

Easy

File Structure and Navigation
Files
Basic Commands
Solve
Consider the following directory structure:
 image
You start at /home/user and execute the following commands:
 image
What will be the resulting directory structure?
 image

Medium

Fork mellow yellow
Solve
How many times will the following code will print "Mellow Yellow"?
 image

Medium

Remote server connection
SSH
Solve
Our software engineering intern, Wu is looking to use port 4545 on localhost to connect to a remote server called woot.bananas.com on port 80. Which command would you recommend for this?
 image

Easy

Commands
Solve
Which of the following unix commands change the case of first three lines of file “classified” from lowercase to uppercase
 image

Easy

Expressions
Solve
What does this shell script output?
 image

Easy

Loops
Solve
What are fourth and sixth lines output by this script:
 image
🧐 Question🔧 Skill

Medium

Swap space
Performance Analysis

3 mins

Linux Administration
Solve

Medium

Debugging Issues
Environment Variables
Debugging

2 mins

Linux
Solve

Easy

File Structure and Navigation
Files
Basic Commands

2 mins

Linux
Solve

Medium

Fork mellow yellow

2 mins

Linux
Solve

Medium

Remote server connection
SSH

2 mins

Linux
Solve

Easy

Commands

2 mins

Shell Scripting
Solve

Easy

Expressions

2 mins

Shell Scripting
Solve

Easy

Loops

2 mins

Shell Scripting
Solve
🧐 Question🔧 Skill💪 Difficulty⌛ Time
Swap space
Performance Analysis
Linux Administration
Medium3 mins
Solve
Debugging Issues
Environment Variables
Debugging
Linux
Medium2 mins
Solve
File Structure and Navigation
Files
Basic Commands
Linux
Easy2 mins
Solve
Fork mellow yellow
Linux
Medium2 mins
Solve
Remote server connection
SSH
Linux
Medium2 mins
Solve
Commands
Shell Scripting
Easy2 mins
Solve
Expressions
Shell Scripting
Easy2 mins
Solve
Loops
Shell Scripting
Easy2 mins
Solve
Reason #4

1200+ customers in 75 countries

customers in 75 countries
Brandon

With Adaface, we were able to optimise our initial screening process by upwards of 75%, freeing up precious time for both hiring managers and our talent acquisition team alike!


Brandon Lee, Head of People, Love, Bonito

Reason #5

Designed for elimination, not selection

The most important thing while implementing the pre-employment Linux System Administrator Test in your hiring process is that it is an elimination tool, not a selection tool. In other words: you want to use the test to eliminate the candidates who do poorly on the test, not to select the candidates who come out at the top. While they are super valuable, pre-employment tests do not paint the entire picture of a candidate’s abilities, knowledge, and motivations. Multiple easy questions are more predictive of a candidate's ability than fewer hard questions. Harder questions are often "trick" based questions, which do not provide any meaningful signal about the candidate's skillset.

Science behind Adaface tests
Reason #6

1 click candidate invites

Email invites: You can send candidates an email invite to the Linux System Administrator Test from your dashboard by entering their email address.

Public link: You can create a public link for each test that you can share with candidates.

API or integrations: You can invite candidates directly from your ATS by using our pre-built integrations with popular ATS systems or building a custom integration with your in-house ATS.

invite candidates
Reason #7

Detailed scorecards & benchmarks

Reason #7

Detailed scorecards & benchmarks

Along with scorecards that report the performance of the candidate in detail, you also receive a comparative analysis against the company average and industry standards.

View sample scorecard
Reason #8

High completion rate

Adaface tests are conversational, low-stress, and take just 25-40 mins to complete.

This is why Adaface has the highest test-completion rate (86%), which is more than 2x better than traditional assessments.

test completion rate
Reason #9

Advanced Proctoring


Learn more

About the Linux System Administrator Assessment Test

Why you should use Pre-employment Linux System Administrator Online Test?

The Linux System Administrator Test makes use of scenario-based questions to test for on-the-job skills as opposed to theoretical knowledge, ensuring that candidates who do well on this screening test have the relavant skills. The questions are designed to covered following on-the-job aspects:

  • Demonstrates proficiency in Linux command line usage
  • Ability to efficiently manage files on a Linux system
  • Knowledge of user and group management in Linux
  • Understanding of process management concepts
  • Able to monitor and fine-tune system performance
  • Familiarity with network configuration on a Linux system
  • Knowledge of security best practices for Linux systems
  • Ability to write and execute shell scripts
  • Proficiency in package management on a Linux system
  • Understanding of backup and restore procedures

Once the test is sent to a candidate, the candidate receives a link in email to take the test. For each candidate, you will receive a detailed report with skills breakdown and benchmarks to shortlist the top candidates from your pool.

What topics are covered in the Linux System Administrator Online Test?

  • Linux command line

    The Linux command line refers to the text-based interface used to interact with the operating system. It allows users to execute commands and perform various tasks efficiently and quickly. This skill should be measured in the test to ensure that candidates have a strong understanding of the command line and can effectively navigate and manipulate the Linux environment.

  • File management

    File management involves the organization, manipulation, and maintenance of files in a Linux system. This skill includes creating, deleting, renaming, and moving files, as well as understanding file permissions and ownership. Measuring this skill in the test is essential to assess a candidate's ability to efficiently manage and organize data in a Linux environment.

  • User and group management

    User and group management pertains to the administration and control of user accounts and groups in a Linux system. This skill involves creating and managing user accounts, assigning permissions and access privileges, as well as managing user groups. Assessing this skill in the test is crucial to ensure that candidates possess the necessary knowledge to maintain user accounts and access control in a Linux environment.

  • Process management

    Process management involves monitoring and controlling running processes in a Linux system. This skill includes starting, stopping, and managing processes, as well as understanding process utilization and resource allocation. It is important to measure this skill in the test to evaluate a candidate's ability to handle and optimize system processes effectively.

  • System monitoring and performance tuning

    System monitoring and performance tuning encompass the ability to monitor system resources, identify bottlenecks, and optimize the performance of a Linux system. This skill includes gathering system statistics, analyzing performance data, and implementing appropriate tuning strategies. Measuring this skill in the test is crucial to assess a candidate's ability to maintain the stability and efficiency of a Linux environment.

  • Network configuration

    Network configuration involves setting up and managing network interfaces, IP addresses, routing tables, and other networking parameters in a Linux system. This skill includes configuring both wired and wireless networks, troubleshooting network connectivity issues, and implementing network security measures. Assessing this skill in the test is necessary to ensure that candidates possess the necessary knowledge to configure and troubleshoot network settings in a Linux environment.

  • Security

    Security in a Linux system refers to implementing measures to protect the system and its resources from unauthorized access, attacks, and vulnerabilities. This skill includes configuring user permissions, setting up firewalls, implementing encryption, and managing security patches. Measuring this skill in the test is essential to evaluate a candidate's understanding of Linux security practices and their ability to safeguard the system from potential threats.

  • Shell scripting

    Shell scripting involves writing scripts that automate tasks and processes in a Linux system. This skill includes understanding scripting languages, such as Bash, and using them to create efficient and automated solutions. Assessing this skill in the test is crucial to evaluate a candidate's ability to automate routine tasks, improve workflow efficiency, and troubleshoot common system issues.

  • Package management

    Package management refers to the installation, updating, and removal of software packages in a Linux system. This skill involves using package managers, such as apt or yum, to manage software dependencies and maintain the system's software repository. Measuring this skill in the test is important to assess a candidate's familiarity with package management techniques and their ability to handle software installation and updates effectively.

  • Backup and restore

    Backup and restore involves creating and managing data backups to ensure the availability and integrity of important files and system configurations. This skill includes choosing backup strategies, executing backup processes, and restoring data from backups. Assessing this skill in the test is necessary to evaluate a candidate's understanding of backup principles and their ability to implement reliable backup and restore procedures in a Linux environment.

  • Full list of covered topics

    The actual topics of the questions in the final test will depend on your job description and requirements. However, here's a list of topics you can expect the questions for Linux System Administrator Test to be based on.

    Commands and utilities
    File permissions
    File system hierarchy
    File system types
    I/O redirection
    Pipes and filters
    Regular expressions
    Environment variables
    Shell variables
    Shell functions
    Command substitution
    Process management commands
    Monitoring system performance
    Network configuration commands
    Firewall configuration
    SSH and remote access
    Encryption and secure communication
    Package installation and removal
    Software updates and patches
    Backup tools and strategies
    Restoring data from backups
    Cron jobs and scheduling
    System logs and log analysis
    User authentication and authorization
    Security auditing
    Kernel and system tuning
    Disk management
    Memory management
    Networking concepts
    Troubleshooting common system issues
    Managing system services
    Routing and network configuration
    Disk partitioning and formatting
    Fundamentals of scripting
    Variables and data types
    Conditional statements
    Loops and control structures
    Functions and arguments
    String manipulation
    Script execution and debugging
    Regular expression usage
    System information and status
    Creating and managing users
    User groups and permissions
    Managing password policies
    Managing groups and group membership
    Linux system startup and shutdown
    File compression and archiving
    Managing software repositories
    Dependency management
    Managing software versions
    Data backup and restore strategies
    System recovery procedures
    Network address configuration
    Network troubleshooting steps
    Network security measures
    Security protocols and encryption
    Secure system access
    Basic network services
    Scripting best practices
    Handling command line arguments
    Process monitoring and management
    DNS configuration and troubleshooting

What roles can I use the Linux System Administrator Online Test for?

  • Linux System Administrator
  • DevOps Engineer
  • Network Administrator
  • Cloud Engineer
  • Security Engineer
  • IT Support Engineer
  • SysOps Administrator

How is the Linux System Administrator Online Test customized for senior candidates?

For intermediate/ experienced candidates, we customize the assessment questions to include advanced topics and increase the difficulty level of the questions. This might include adding questions on topics like

  • Demonstrates experience with Linux command line utilities
  • Knowledge of file permission and ownership management
  • Ability to troubleshoot and resolve system issues
  • Understanding of networking protocols and configurations
  • Experience with system monitoring tools and utilities
  • Knowledge of file system hierarchy and organization
  • Ability to secure and harden a Linux system
  • Proficiency in automating tasks with shell scripts
  • Understanding of software package dependencies
  • Experience with disaster recovery and system backup
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The hiring managers felt that through the technical questions that they asked during the panel interviews, they were able to tell which candidates had better scores, and differentiated with those who did not score as well. They are highly satisfied with the quality of candidates shortlisted with the Adaface screening.


85%
reduction in screening time

Linux System Administrator Hiring Test FAQs

Can I combine multiple skills into one custom assessment?

Yes, absolutely. Custom assessments are set up based on your job description, and will include questions on all must-have skills you specify. Here's a quick guide on how you can request a custom test.

Do you have any anti-cheating or proctoring features in place?

We have the following anti-cheating features in place:

  • Non-googleable questions
  • IP proctoring
  • Screen proctoring
  • Web proctoring
  • Webcam proctoring
  • Plagiarism detection
  • Secure browser
  • Copy paste protection

Read more about the proctoring features.

How do I interpret test scores?

The primary thing to keep in mind is that an assessment is an elimination tool, not a selection tool. A skills assessment is optimized to help you eliminate candidates who are not technically qualified for the role, it is not optimized to help you find the best candidate for the role. So the ideal way to use an assessment is to decide a threshold score (typically 55%, we help you benchmark) and invite all candidates who score above the threshold for the next rounds of interview.

What experience level can I use this test for?

Each Adaface assessment is customized to your job description/ ideal candidate persona (our subject matter experts will pick the right questions for your assessment from our library of 10000+ questions). This assessment can be customized for any experience level.

Does every candidate get the same questions?

Yes, it makes it much easier for you to compare candidates. Options for MCQ questions and the order of questions are randomized. We have anti-cheating/ proctoring features in place. In our enterprise plan, we also have the option to create multiple versions of the same assessment with questions of similar difficulty levels.

I'm a candidate. Can I try a practice test?

No. Unfortunately, we do not support practice tests at the moment. However, you can use our sample questions for practice.

What is the cost of using this test?

You can check out our pricing plans.

Can I get a free trial?

Yes, you can sign up for free and preview this test.

I just moved to a paid plan. How can I request a custom assessment?

Here is a quick guide on how to request a custom assessment on Adaface.

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