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
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 InterviewQuestion 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?
Shell
Kernel
Command
Script
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?
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.
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.
HP-UX
AIX
OSX
Slackware
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?
Multi User
Multi Tasking
Multi Process
All of the above
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:
command [options] [arguments]
command options [arguments]
command [options] [arguments]
command options arguments
Answer :The correct Syntax of Linux Command is Command [options] [arguments].
Q.11: Choose the odd one out.
Vi
vim
cd
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.
132 thoughts on “11 Basic Linux Interview Questions and Answers”
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)?
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.
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.
I believe the topic you are asking about if Brace Expansion. Various shells may perform this differently (there are many shells). Here is a reference to BASH and related patterns. See Brace Expansion near bottom. http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashGuide/Patterns
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…
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.
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..
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).
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.
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
Dear Eshwaran, we keep posting, Linux stuffs, tutorials, review almost evryday. Keep connected to tecmint, for the latest posts. You can always read our Previous articles on tecmint. It surely will add to your knowledge. Hope it helps.
** Sorry dear, but we can not send our articles to anybody personally. It is against our policy. Hope you understand.
We already covering a series on Linux Foundation Certified SysAdmin course, you should follow it to learn Linux. Use the following link to visit the complete Linux course tutorials.
@ 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
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)?
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.
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.
Thanks in advance!
@Sumit,
Thanks for finding this article useful, but do the spelling ‘Linus’ is correct – he is Linus Torvalds creator of Linux.
Great idea! Really liked! Just one thing: In Q.10, options a and c are the same.
Really…. Nice one and more to learn
Thanku for creating this article it’s very important for interview preparation..
It’s a very good.
This website is huge helpful for me, thanks for a millions.
thanks its good.
This is very good article. A lot to learn from this
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
@Shayan,
Install the libX11 package to fix that error..
good for basic question in linux as well as in interview..
nano command …?
nano is a simple to use text editor which can be executed by nano command if and only if it is installed.
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.
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.
@Aslam,
Just install ‘net-tools‘ package that provides ifconfig command using yum command as shown, For example, to install ifconfig command run,
U Should Activate In Bios Virtual Mode, Then Try it.
while i am creating empty file in this command
#touch file{1…..10}
#ls
#file{1…10}
Hi ravi
please help me how to installed NVIDIA grafic card drivers steps
@Narasimha,
Could you tell me on which Linux distribution, you want to have graphic drivers installed?
I believe the topic you are asking about if Brace Expansion. Various shells may perform this differently (there are many shells). Here is a reference to BASH and related patterns. See Brace Expansion near bottom. http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashGuide/Patterns
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]#
@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 file9I 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…
its very useful… bt plz give me a lots of thing on linux …….
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.
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..
Welcome Raghu,
Keep connected! Keep Commenting!
Give good basic knowledge
Appreciation or request @ Haneesh
Good Information…..
Welcome @ Mitasmita Pradhan
it’s ok but not upto the mark
Avishek, Good info…grate to share knowledge.
Welcome @ naresh
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 .
welcome Rajesh.
Tecmint team and proficient authors team will always be guiding the needy.
Dear Sir,
I Want to start career in Linx Admin. which are the commands are essential and where should i practise it.
Well Linux Admin is proficient in commands, scripts, service/Application and a whole lot other aspects. You may start from basic commands: here is the link : https://www.tecmint.com/useful-linux-commands-for-newbies/
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.
Welcome @ dipan Kundan.
Keep Connected!
Dear,
Can you send filter commands and uses in Linux and Solaris
Good stuff…….. keep sending like this
Dear Arvind Reddy,
we can’t send you articles in personal.
You can subscribe to us alternatively.
thanks for the notes.. It was helpful.
Welcome @ Siddhart Gupta.
Very nice information>. Thanks Avishek Kumar.
Thanks for the recognition.
nice refreshing..
It was a great pleasure knowing this.
thnxx i goted basic info… :)
Welcome @ vyaki,
It was pleasing to know that the article helped you.
Thanking you sir,
i wish to know much more questions and answers related to Linux.
Welcome @ fuhad,
keep connected to Tecmint.com for more Linux related questions and their answer.
Thank u sir …….. i want more quest on this linux
Dear Harish,
we are coming with Interview Article every Saturday (except a few exception).
Keep connected to Tecmint for that.
thanks for basic info of linux
Welcome @ jyoti.
thank you sir…. i want more qns on this linux
Dear rambabu,
welcome!
Keep connected to Tecmint.com for more such questions related to Linux.
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).
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.
Hi Avishek,
Very nice article and interesting and knowledgeable for learners of Linux and very useful for interviews. Keep it up,
Dear Sreenivasulu,
Thanks for such a wonderful feedback. we are Honored!
Very good content easy to understand ..Way to go !!
Dear Lalu,
Thanks for your feedback.
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
Dear Harshal kulkarni,
Thanks for your feedback.
We (Tecmint Team) is happy to know, our writing is helping our readers, followers and fans.
Too Basic…..
But need to know
One man’s BASIC may be Challenge for others.
:)
Nice info
Welcome @ sarang
hello sir nice article it helped me a lot
Wonderful @ srikant,
Tecmint-Team is pleased to know we were helpful.
Good format to spread knowledge: very simple, helpful and clear 4 all.. …..plz post experience question
shukriya …
Yeah! Tanweer we are doing it only, step by step.
Keep Connected
Thanks ,Linux basic command ,,
can u add , How to install,config q mail ?
Welcome @ istafa,
we will be covering qmail, soon.
Keep connected.
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
Dear Eshwaran, we keep posting, Linux stuffs, tutorials, review almost evryday. Keep connected to tecmint, for the latest posts. You can always read our Previous articles on tecmint. It surely will add to your knowledge. Hope it helps.
** Sorry dear, but we can not send our articles to anybody personally. It is against our policy. Hope you understand.
hi, i am joining to linux course need you are help
We already covering a series on Linux Foundation Certified SysAdmin course, you should follow it to learn Linux. Use the following link to visit the complete Linux course tutorials.
https://www.tecmint.com/sed-command-to-create-edit-and-manipulate-files-in-linux/
very useful informations sir.But what about Linux future ,comparing to developers which persons get more salary?
reply me sir
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.
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.
Thanks @ bhavik.
Nice to hear this from You.
kindly send me some questions on mail.
@ 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.
SUPER AM A FRESHER LEARNING LINUX PROVIDE MORE AND MORE INTERVIEW QUESTIONSSSSS…..
PROVIDE TROUBLESHOOTING INTERVIEW QUESTIONSSSS
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.
its really awesome, got refreshed from my linux basic skills . Waiting for your next post.
Thanks Neal Raj Thakre. we have already published other articles of this series.
very helpful article
Good to hear that sanil kumar, Thanks.
Thanks @ Dinesh Bahadur, For your valueable Feedback.
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
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.
This is good initiative. Looking for next set of question.
yeah !! fine article dude ;)
Thanks for your feedback @ Rahul
good brushup on basics
:)
It always helps to have fresh these concepts, Good article …
Thanks @ Juancho76 for your valueable feedback.
Thanks a lot! it was very useful. For me, at least 5 of them were completely new , and the others were good reviews.
Thanks @ saber, for your Feedback.
Happy to know it was helpful to you.
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?
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
Good format to spread knowledge: very simple, helpful and clear. Thanks!
Thanks @ Eduardo González for your valueable feedback.
nice one
Thanks @ niraj
i am looking for experienced interview questions on Avishek Kumar.
on Avishek Kumar?
are you kidding???
very helpful bhai waiting for next post
:) sure @ shaik, we are coming with next post of this series, soon.
Stay tuned to Tecmint.
Thank you. I look forward to the next interview question list. Your website is very helpful to me.
Thanks @ kathy,
comment of such kind makes us proud.
Great contents. Helpful. Really appreciated. Keep doing good work, Avishek Kumar. Cheers.
:) Thanks @ Mitesh Ganatra. Your feedback is appreciated on a higher note.
the option 1 and option 3 is the same with each other,what the point?
Yes, @ zlfccnu
in question number 10, option (1) and (3) are same, a mistake on our part, but still the answer is correct.
Thanks..!! .. refreshed on linux basics..
:) Thanks for your feedback @ Ganeh Maragani
helpful, looking forward to the next interview post
Thanks for the Feedback. We are coming with next article, very soon.
hi Avishek,
NIce Info..can u send me Active directoy for windows and linux Docs…
Thanks in Advance
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
Dear yogi,
keep going through each of our articles already on Tecmint as well as new articles to come, you will learn a lot.
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.