Linux System Administrator Online 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
File management
User and group management
Process management
System monitoring and performance tuning
Network configuration
Security
Shell scripting
Package management
Backup and restore

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About the Linux System Administrator Test

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

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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 15,000+ questions. The actual questions on this Linux System Administrator Test will be non-googleable.

🧐 Question
Medium Swap space Performance Analysis Resource Optimization	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: 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 System Administration Command Line Interface	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 File System Management Directory Structure Manipulation	Solve
Consider the following directory structure: You start at /home/user and execute the following commands: What will be the resulting directory structure?
Medium Fork mellow yellow	Solve
How many times will the following code will print "Mellow Yellow"?
Medium Remote server connection SSH Ssh Port Forwarding	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?
Easy Commands Unix Commands String Manipulation	Solve
Which of the following unix commands change the case of first three lines of file “classified” from lowercase to uppercase
Easy Expressions	Solve
What does this shell script output?
Easy Loops Conditional Logic Looping	Solve
What are fourth and sixth lines output by this script:

	🧐 Question	🔧 Skill
	Medium Swap space Performance Analysis Resource Optimization	3 mins Linux Administration	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: 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 System Administration Command Line Interface	2 mins Linux	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 File System Management Directory Structure Manipulation	2 mins Linux	Solve
Consider the following directory structure: You start at /home/user and execute the following commands: What will be the resulting directory structure?
	Medium Fork mellow yellow	2 mins Linux	Solve
How many times will the following code will print "Mellow Yellow"?
	Medium Remote server connection SSH Ssh Port Forwarding	2 mins Linux	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?
	Easy Commands Unix Commands String Manipulation	2 mins Shell Scripting	Solve
Which of the following unix commands change the case of first three lines of file “classified” from lowercase to uppercase
	Easy Expressions	2 mins Shell Scripting	Solve
What does this shell script output?
	Easy Loops Conditional Logic Looping	2 mins Shell Scripting	Solve
What are fourth and sixth lines output by this script:

	🧐 Question	🔧 Skill	💪 Difficulty	⌛ Time
	Swap space Performance Analysis Resource Optimization	Linux Administration	Medium	3 mins	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: 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
	Debugging Issues Environment Variables Debugging System Administration Command Line Interface	Linux	Medium	2 mins	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
	File Structure and Navigation Files Basic Commands File System Management Directory Structure Manipulation	Linux	Easy	2 mins	Solve
Consider the following directory structure: You start at /home/user and execute the following commands: What will be the resulting directory structure?
	Fork mellow yellow	Linux	Medium	2 mins	Solve
How many times will the following code will print "Mellow Yellow"?
	Remote server connection SSH Ssh Port Forwarding	Linux	Medium	2 mins	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?
	Commands Unix Commands String Manipulation	Shell Scripting	Easy	2 mins	Solve
Which of the following unix commands change the case of first three lines of file “classified” from lowercase to uppercase
	Expressions	Shell Scripting	Easy	2 mins	Solve
What does this shell script output?
	Loops Conditional Logic Looping	Shell Scripting	Easy	2 mins	Solve
What are fourth and sixth lines output by this script:

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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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Have questions about the Linux System Administrator Hiring Test?

What is the Linux System Administrator Test?

The Linux System Administrator Test is designed to assess the skills and knowledge of candidates in various aspects of Linux system administration. It is used by recruiters to identify individuals who are capable of managing and maintaining Linux systems effectively.

Can I combine Linux System Administrator Test with Shell Scripting questions?

Yes, recruiters can request a customized test that combines Linux System Administrator Test with Shell Scripting questions. To learn more about our Shell Online Assessment Test, visit Shell Online Assessment Test.

What skills are evaluated in the Linux System Administrator Test?

The test evaluates skills in Linux command line, file management, user and group management, process management, system monitoring, performance tuning, network configuration, security, shell scripting, package management, and backup and restore.

How to use the Linux System Administrator Test in my hiring process?

Use this test as a pre-screening tool in the early stages of recruitment. Add a link to the assessment in your job post or invite candidates via email. This helps identify skilled candidates faster.

Can I test Linux and Python together in a test?

Yes, you can combine Linux and Python skills in a single test. This is beneficial for roles requiring both skills. Check out our Python and Linux Test for more details.

What are the main System Administration tests?

Key system administration tests include:

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:

Hidden AI Tools Detection with Honestly
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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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.

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