11 Basic Linux Interview Questions and Answers

Theories apart, we are proud to announce a new section on Tecmint, dedicated to Linux Interview. Here we will bring to you Linux Interview Questions and all other aspects of Linux, which is must for a professional in this cut-throat competition world.

Basic Linux Interview Questions
Basic Linux Interview Questions

A new article in this section (Linux Interview) will be posted on every weekend. The initiative taken by Tecmint is first of it’s kind among other Linux Dedicated websites, along with quality and unique articles.

We will start with Basic Linux Interview Question and will go advance article by article, for which your response is highly appreciated, which put us on a higher note.

Q.1: What is the core of Linux Operating System?
  1. Shell
  2. Kernel
  3. Command
  4. Script
  5. Terminal
Answer : Kernel is the core of Linux Operating System. Shell is a command Line Interpreter, Command is user Instruction to Computer, Script is collection of commands stored in a file and Terminal is a command Line Interface
Q.2: What Linus Torvalds Created?
  1. Fedora
  2. Slackware
  3. Debian
  4. Gentoo
  5. Linux
Answer : Linus Torvalds created Linux, which is the kernel (heart) of all of the above Operating System and all other Linux Operating System.
Q.3: Torvalds, Wrote most of the Linux Kernel in C++ programming Language, do you agree?
Answer : No! Linux Kernel contains 12,020,528 Lines of codes out of which 2,151,595 Lines are comments. So remaining 9,868,933 lines are codes and out of 9,868,933 Lines of codes 7,896,318 are written in C Programming Language.

The remaining Lines of code 1,972,615 is written in C++, Assembly, Perl, Shell Script, Python, Bash Script, HTML, awk, yacc, lex, sed, etc.

Note : The Number of Lines of codes varies on daily basis and an average of more than 3,509 lines are being added to Kernel.

Q.4: Linux initially was developed for intel X86 architecture but has been ported to other hardware platform than any other Operating System. Do you agree?.
Answer : Yes, I do agree. Linux was written for x86 machine, and has been ported to all kind of platform. Today’s more than 90% of supercomputers are using Linux. Linux made a very promising future in mobile phone, Tablets. In-fact we are surrounded by Linux in remote controls, space science, Research, Web, Desktop Computing. The list is endless.
Q.5: Is it legal to edit Linux Kernel?
Answer : Yes, Kernel is released under General Public Licence (GPL), and anyone can edit Linux Kernel to the extent permitted under GPL. Linux Kernel comes under the category of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
Q.6: What is the basic difference between UNIX and Linux Operating System.
Answer : Linux Operating System is Free and Open Source Software, the kernel of which is created by Linus Torvalds and community. Well you can not say UNIX Operating System doesn’t comes under the category of Free and Open Source Software, BSD, is a variant of UNIX which comes under the category of FOSS. Moreover Big companies like Apple, IBM, Oracle, HP, etc. are contributing to UNIX Kernel.
Q. 7: Choose the odd one out.
  1. HP-UX
  2. AIX
  3. OSX
  4. Slackware
  5. Solaris
Answer : Slackware is the odd in the above list. HP-UX, AIX, OSX, Solaris are developed by HP, IBM, APPLE, Oracle respectively and all are UNIX variant. Slackware is a Linux Operating System.
Q.8: Is Linux Operating system Virus free?
Answer : No! There doesn’t exist any Operating System on this earth that is virus free. However Linux is known to have least number of Viruses, till date, yes even less than UNIX OS. Linux has had about 60-100 viruses listed till date. None of them actively spreading nowadays. A rough estimate of UNIX viruses is between 85 -120 viruses reported till date.
Q.9: Linux is which kind of Operating System?
  1. Multi User
  2. Multi Tasking
  3. Multi Process
  4. All of the above
  5. None of the above
Answer : All of the Above. Linux is an Operating System which supports Multi User, Running a Number of Processes performing different tasks simultaneously.
Q.10: Syntax of any Linux command is:
  1. command [options] [arguments]
  2. command options [arguments]
  3. command [options] [arguments]
  4. command options arguments
Answer : The correct Syntax of Linux Command is Command [options] [arguments].
Q.11: Choose the odd one out.
  1. Vi
  2. vim
  3. cd
  4. nano
Answer : The odd one in the above list is cd. Vi, vim and nano are editors which is useful in editing files, while cd command is used for changing directory.

That’s all for now. How much you learned for the above questions? How it helped you in your Interview? We would like to hear all these from you in our comment section. Wait till the next weekend, for new set of questions. Till then stay healthy, tuned and connected to Tecmint.

Avishek
A Passionate GNU/Linux Enthusiast and Software Developer with over a decade in the field of Linux and Open Source technologies.

Each tutorial at TecMint is created by a team of experienced Linux system administrators so that it meets our high-quality standards.

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132 thoughts on “11 Basic Linux Interview Questions and Answers”

  1. Would I in Linux have access to ancient Greek, to characters with diacritics and to phonetic characters; not be inserting them via a Menu, but install them so that I can switch keyboard from English/European to Greek, and to English with diacritics (e.g. Sanskrit)?

    Reply
  2. I think it should be pointed out, regarding #3, that the number of lines of code in Linux changes — generally upward — with each kernel release, and no-doubt the numbers shown in the answer are now outdated, but no-doubt were true at the time this article was written.

    Reply
  3. Hi,

    Good article and helpful to beginner or who wants to recall their knowledge in linux.

    I have observed the two things which needs to be corrected.

    1. Spelling of Linux on starting of answer of question #2.
    2. Do needful changes in given options of question #10.

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • @Sumit,

      Thanks for finding this article useful, but do the spelling ‘Linus’ is correct – he is Linus Torvalds creator of Linux.

      Reply
  4. Hello
    Does anyone know this error?

    error while loading shared libraries: libX11-xcb.so.1: can not open shared object file: No such file or directory

    Reply
  5. Question No.2 seems to be wrong.

    Q.2: What Linus Torvalds Created?

    Fedora
    Slackware
    Debian
    Gentoo
    Linux

    Answer : Linus Torvalds created Linux, which is the kernel (heart) of all of the above Operating System and all other Linux Operating System.

    Reply
  6. I have installed Windows 7 on my laptop.
    I have installed Virtual Box and in that installed RHEL 5 and its working fine.
    When I installed RHEL 7 on that, ifconfig command is not working.
    What is the reason, could you please help me out here.

    Reply
  7. can some one help me

    while i was creating the empty files using “touch” command it is creating like this

    [root@srikanth ~/nagios]# touch file{1..10}
    [root@srikanth ~/nagios]#
    [root@srikanth ~/nagios]# ls
    file1..10
    [root@srikanth ~/nagios]#

    Reply
    • @Srikanth,
      I’ve tried same command and it’s works fine, here is the output of the command.

      # touch file{1..10}
      # $ ls
      file1  file10  file2  file3  file4  file5  file6  file7  file8  file9
      
      # ls -l
      total 0
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file1
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file10
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file2
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file3
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file4
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file5
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file6
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file7
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file8
      -rw-r--r-- 1 tecmint tecmint 0 Nov 10 11:33 file9
      
      Reply
  8. I am kumar..I will atten the interview Linux how to prepare the interview..I have completed 2 rounds last one round technical interview ..pls give a successtion…

    Reply
  9. Hello, first of all great article I’m studying for an interview and this has been helpful. It appears to me that question number 10 has the correct answer listed twice.

    Best regards.

    Reply
  10. Beautiful article and complete website too.. gives basic idea i never even though of besides executing few basic commands. I am new to Linux. I will surly visit all articles one by one..

    Reply
  11. Thanks Sir, for the useful info, ppl like you are helpful for the guys like us, u r work is appreciated and looking more forward for the knowledge .

    Reply
  12. hello sir, this is awesome, i’m just near to complete my RHCE exam,n i know,this basic knowledge will help me strongly in interview.keep it up sir.

    Reply
    • Dear Harish,
      we are coming with Interview Article every Saturday (except a few exception).
      Keep connected to Tecmint for that.

      Reply
  13. HI.Avishek Kumar..

    Hope so u doing well. Could share me the Interview questions docs for WIndows & Linux. I am beginner for linux & i have experience with windows domain. Could share me the docs.

    Plz connect me on this mob no for our further conversation(8792830783).

    Reply
    • Dear vssmanian,
      As said earlier, It is not possible to send each of our readers the article in person, on their personal IDs. Moreover it is against our Policy.

      You can subscribe us and keep visiting Tecmint every now and then for more such questions.

      Reply
  14. Hi Avishek,

    Very nice article and interesting and knowledgeable for learners of Linux and very useful for interviews. Keep it up,

    Reply
  15. Hello Avishek,

    I am Linux Enthusiast and MCA. New in the field of Linux. It’s a great beginning for me. Excellent Basic things covered.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Dear Harshal kulkarni,
      Thanks for your feedback.
      We (Tecmint Team) is happy to know, our writing is helping our readers, followers and fans.

      Reply
  16. Good format to spread knowledge: very simple, helpful and clear 4 all.. …..plz post experience question
    shukriya …

    Reply
  17. Hi Avishek,
    This is Eshwaran i want know basic linux system admin question ,my intrest linux admin,but i dont have experience linux. also i am looking video linux admin like CBT Nugget.I have experience 3 years but windows platform,can guide me .share linux system admin question and answer….
    my email id:[email protected],7760680717

    Reply
    • Dear Kumar, Thanks for the feedback.

      You should choose your carrier based upon area of Interest and not Field. There is no salary Limit for a deserving person in any field of the world.

      So choose your carrier on your area of expertise and interest.

      Reply
  18. this is awesome,i’m just near to complete my exam,n i know,this basic knowledge will help me strongly in interview.keep it up sir.

    Reply
    • @ DANISH,
      It would be very difficult for us to send Interview Questions/Answer in Person. Please search our website as keep connected. If you find any topic/subject we have not touched, we will be happy to help.

      Reply
  19. SUPER AM A FRESHER LEARNING LINUX PROVIDE MORE AND MORE INTERVIEW QUESTIONSSSSS…..

    PROVIDE TROUBLESHOOTING INTERVIEW QUESTIONSSSS

    Reply
    • Thanks @ PURUSHOTHAM, we will be providing Troubleshooting interview questions in our future post. Although we keep a few troubleshooting question relating to topic, in the post.
      Keep connected.

      Reply
    • Hi

      You content is very useful.

      I am having an interview next week on Linux and SQL

      I am fresher and i want to know some questions based on linux and SQL for fresher level for my next interview purpose . If you could help on that i’ll be very greatful to you for this.

      Waiting for positive reply asap.

      my Mail id : [email protected]
      Ph no. 9873734035

      Reply
      • Thanks @ Danish.
        Our sole purpose is to provide anything and everything related to Linux, in as much simple way as possible and comments of such kind, confirms we are on right Track.

        Reply
  20. About Q.10: Syntax of any Linux command is, I don’t understand why having square brackets [] will make any difference among those answers. Could you please give me some examples to clarify?

    Reply
    • Let me take a stab at it. In documentation, [brackets] are used to denote that something is optional. In this sense, command [options] [arguments] is the correct choice as you can often just run the command.

      I would argue that the focus on the [brackets] conveys the wrong intention. The focus turns the question into more “Do you know how to read documentation for a command?” rather than “Do you know options and arguments cannot precede the command?”

      Also, command [arguments] [options] is just as valid. ls -l /home/user = ls /home/user -l

      Reply
      • hye avishek, im beginner to use Linux, please teach me ad guide me how to use it and master it, any guide which understand very fast..thanks

        Reply
        • Dear yogi,
          keep going through each of our articles already on Tecmint as well as new articles to come, you will learn a lot.

          Reply
      • Hi sir, i am a beginner in linux OS, i would like to do Redhat certified system Administrator also pass the exam of corse, so can you me what type book do i need or advice me anything i can do to pass my exam. I really want to take all certificates in Redhat linux in the future., please help me. Thank you in advance.

        Reply

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