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Quiz: Networking Fundamentals

Test your understanding of Linux networking concepts and commands.

1. What does the ping command do?

  1. Downloads files from the internet
  2. Tests connectivity to a host by sending ICMP packets
  3. Creates a network connection
  4. Configures IP addresses
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. ping sends ICMP echo request packets to a host and waits for replies, measuring response time and packet loss. It's the first tool to use when troubleshooting network connectivity.

Concept Tested: Ping Command

See: Chapter 15 - Ping

2. What information does ip addr (or ip a) show?

  1. Only the public IP address
  2. Network interface configurations including IP addresses
  3. DNS server addresses
  4. Internet speed
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. ip addr displays all network interfaces and their configurations, including IP addresses (IPv4 and IPv6), MAC addresses, and interface states (up/down).

Concept Tested: IP Command

See: Chapter 15 - IP Command

3. What is the difference between a public and private IP address?

  1. There's no difference
  2. Public IPs are routable on the internet; private IPs are for local networks
  3. Private IPs are faster
  4. Public IPs are more secure
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Public IP addresses are unique and routable on the internet. Private IPs (like 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x) are used within local networks and are not directly accessible from the internet.

Concept Tested: IP Addresses

See: Chapter 15 - IP Addresses

4. What does curl do?

  1. Curls the screen display
  2. Transfers data from or to a server using URLs
  3. Compresses files
  4. Creates user roles
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. curl (Client URL) is a command-line tool for transferring data using various protocols (HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, etc.). It's commonly used for downloading files, testing APIs, and web scraping.

Concept Tested: Curl Command

See: Chapter 15 - Curl

5. What does wget do differently than curl?

  1. They're identical
  2. wget is designed for downloading files, with resume and recursive support
  3. curl is only for downloads
  4. wget is faster
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. While both can download files, wget is specifically designed for downloading with features like automatic resume, recursive downloads, and background operation. curl is more versatile for various HTTP operations and scripting.

Concept Tested: Wget Command

See: Chapter 15 - Wget

6. What is DNS?

  1. Direct Network Service
  2. Domain Name System - translates domain names to IP addresses
  3. Data Network Security
  4. Distributed Node Service
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses (like 142.250.80.46) that computers use to identify each other on the network.

Concept Tested: DNS

See: Chapter 15 - DNS

7. What does traceroute (or tracepath) show?

  1. The contents of a file
  2. The path packets take to reach a destination
  3. User login history
  4. Available routes in a GPS
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. traceroute displays the network path (hops) that packets take to reach a destination, showing each router along the way and the time to reach it. Useful for diagnosing where network problems occur.

Concept Tested: Traceroute

See: Chapter 15 - Traceroute

8. What does netstat -tuln show?

  1. Network statistics over time
  2. Listening TCP and UDP ports with numeric addresses
  3. Network card specifications
  4. Internet speed test results
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. netstat -tuln shows listening ports: -t (TCP), -u (UDP), -l (listening), -n (numeric, don't resolve names). This reveals what services are running and accepting connections.

Concept Tested: Netstat Command

See: Chapter 15 - Netstat

9. What file typically contains DNS server configuration?

  1. /etc/hosts
  2. /etc/resolv.conf
  3. /etc/network
  4. /etc/dns
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. /etc/resolv.conf contains the DNS nameserver addresses your system uses for name resolution. /etc/hosts is used for local hostname mappings, not DNS configuration.

Concept Tested: Network Configuration

See: Chapter 15 - DNS Configuration

10. What is localhost and what IP does it represent?

  1. Your router, 192.168.1.1
  2. Your own computer, 127.0.0.1
  3. Google's servers, 8.8.8.8
  4. The network gateway, 0.0.0.0
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. localhost is a hostname that refers to your own computer, mapped to the loopback address 127.0.0.1. Connections to localhost never leave your machine, useful for testing local services.

Concept Tested: Localhost

See: Chapter 15 - Localhost