You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
LINUX PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTELPI LPIC-2:Linux Engineer (201-450)
The LPI LPIC-2: Linux Engineer certification validates your ability to administer small to medium-sized mixed networks with advanced Linux skills. It covers kernel management, system startup, storage, networking, and security, preparing you to plan, implement, and troubleshoot complex Linux environments. Earning LPIC-2 demonstrates your readiness for senior Linux administration roles and is a key step in the LPI professional track.
Exam formatMultiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank
Duration90 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
Free questions950
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What LPIC-2 proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
12domains
35objectives
310concepts
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The LPI LPIC-2: Linux Engineer certification is designed for Linux professionals who want to demonstrate advanced skills in administering small to medium-sized mixed networks. It validates your ability to plan, implement, maintain, secure, and troubleshoot a network that includes LAN servers, internet gateways, and internet servers, using a variety of services such as Samba, NFS, DNS, DHCP, web servers, and email servers.
Earning LPIC-2 requires passing two exams (201 and 202) and holding an active LPIC-1 certification. The certification covers a broad range of topics, including capacity planning, kernel management, system startup, filesystem and device administration, advanced storage, networking configuration, and system security. It is a vendor-neutral credential that is recognized globally and is ideal for Linux engineers and administrators seeking to advance their careers.
Who it’s for
This certification is for Linux system administrators and engineers who have at least a year of experience with Linux and are responsible for administering small to medium-sized networks. It is also suitable for IT professionals who want to formalize their advanced Linux skills and progress to higher-level LPI certifications. Candidates should be comfortable with the command line, have a solid understanding of Linux system architecture, and be able to manage services, storage, and networking. The certification is also valuable for those who supervise assistants and advise management on automation and purchasing decisions.
Recommended experience
Candidates should have a working knowledge of Linux system administration, including experience with the command line, filesystems, and basic networking. LPI recommends that candidates have at least one year of experience before attempting the LPIC-2 exams. Experience administering Linux systems in a professional environment; Familiarity with the topics covered in the LPIC-1 certification; Ability to configure and troubleshoot network services; Understanding of system security concepts and tools
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective Linux Professional Institute measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official Linux Professional Institute exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
Topic 200: Capacity Planning
- 200.1 Measure and Troubleshoot Resource Usage (weight: 6)
- 200.2 Predict Future Resource Needs (weight: 2)
Topic 201: Linux Kernel
- 201.1 Kernel components (weight: 2)
- 201.2 Compiling a Linux kernel (weight: 3)
- 201.3 Kernel runtime management and troubleshooting (weight: 4)
Topic 202: System Startup
- 202.1 Customizing system startup (weight: 3)
- 202.2 System recovery (weight: 4)
- 202.3 Alternate Bootloaders (weight: 2)
Topic 203: Filesystem and Devices
- 203.1 Operating the Linux filesystem (weight: 4)
- 203.2 Maintaining a Linux filesystem (weight: 3)
- 203.3 Creating and configuring filesystem options (weight: 2)
Topic 204: Advanced Storage Device Administration
- 204.1 Configuring RAID (weight: 3)
- 204.2 Adjusting Storage Device Access (weight: 2)
- 204.3 Logical Volume Manager (weight: 3)
Topic 205: Networking Configuration
- 205.1 Basic networking configuration (weight: 3)
- 205.2 Advanced Network Configuration (weight: 4)
- 205.3 Troubleshooting network issues (weight: 4)
Topic 206: System Maintenance
- 206.1 Make and install programs from source (weight: 2)
- 206.2 Backup operations (weight: 3)
- 206.3 Notify users on system-related issues (weight: 1)
Topic 207: Domain Name Server
- 207.1 Basic DNS server configuration (weight: 3)
- 207.2 Create and maintain DNS zones (weight: 3)
- 207.3 Securing a DNS server (weight: 2)
Topic 208: HTTP Services
- 208.1 Basic Apache configuration (weight: 4)
- 208.2 Apache configuration for HTTPS (weight: 3)
- 208.3 Implementing Squid as a caching proxy (weight: 2)
- 208.4 Implementing Nginx as a web server and a reverse proxy (weight: 2)
Topic 209: File Sharing
- 209.1 Samba Server Configuration (weight: 5)
- 209.2 NFS Server Configuration (weight: 3)
Topic 210: Network Client Management
- 210.1 DHCP configuration (weight: 2)
- 210.2 PAM authentication (weight: 3)
- 210.3 LDAP client usage (weight: 2)
- 210.4 Configuring an OpenLDAP server (weight: 4)
Topic 211: E-Mail Services
- 211.1 Using e-mail servers (weight: 4)
- 211.2 Managing E-Mail Delivery (weight: 2)
On the day
The exam itself
Everything Linux Professional Institute publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
Active LPIC-1 certification
Exam codeLPIC-2
CertificationLPI LPIC-2: Linux Engineer (201-450)
Exam formatMultiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank
Duration90 minutes
Questions60 questions
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish, German, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian)
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path Linux Professional Institute lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to LPI LPIC-2: Linux Engineer (201-450)
PrerequisiteActive LPIC-1 certification
Credential earnedLPI LPIC-2: Linux Engineer (201-450) Certification Renewal and maintenance
LPIC-2 certification is valid for 5 years unless retaken or a higher level is achieved. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. Linux Professional Institute maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by Linux Professional Institute
Exam registration
Register for the exam through Pearson VUE, Linux Professional Institute’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official Linux Professional Institute certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How does the LPIC-2 certification relate to the older LPIC-2 version 4.0?
The current version is 4.5.0, which went live on February 13, 2017. Version 4.0 objectives are still available for reference, but the 4.5.0 version is the current standard.
Do I need to pass the exams in a specific order?
No, the exams may be taken in any order, but all requirements must be met to earn the certification.
Is there a hands-on or lab component in the LPIC-2 exams?
No, the exams are multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions only.
What is the retake policy for LPIC-2 exams?
LPI does not publish a specific retake policy for LPIC-2 exams. Candidates should refer to the LPI website or Pearson VUE for the latest retake rules.
What job roles does the LPIC-2 certification map to?
LPIC-2 is designed for Linux system administrators and engineers who manage small to medium-sized networks, including roles such as Linux administrator, network administrator, and IT infrastructure engineer.
Can I recertify by passing a higher-level LPI exam?
Yes, achieving a higher-level certification, such as LPIC-3, automatically renews your LPIC-2 certification.
Are the LPIC-2 exams available in languages other than English?
Yes, the exams are available in English, German, Japanese, and Portuguese (Brazilian).
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 950 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept Linux Professional Institute measures — each one written out.
12domains
35objectives
310concepts
204free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official Linux Professional Institute exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1Topic 200: Capacity Planning58 questions
2Topic 201: Linux Kernel84 questions
3Topic 202: System Startup79 questions
4Topic 203: Filesystem and Devices97 questions
5Topic 204: Advanced Storage Device Administration92 questions
6Topic 205: Networking Configuration91 questions
7Topic 206: System Maintenance76 questions
8Topic 207: Domain Name Server76 questions
9Topic 208: HTTP Services106 questions
208.1 Basic Apache configuration (weight: 4)7 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →208.2 Apache configuration for HTTPS (weight: 3)8 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →208.3 Implementing Squid as a caching proxy (weight: 2)8 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →208.4 Implementing Nginx as a web server and a reverse proxy (weight: 2)12 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →
10Topic 209: File Sharing47 questions
11Topic 210: Network Client Management101 questions
12Topic 211: E-Mail Services43 questions
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
200.1 Measure and Troubleshoot Resource Usage (weight: 6)6 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
29 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
950 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
950questions
204pages
35objectives
Freealways
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Topic 200: Capacity Planning58 questions
2Topic 201: Linux Kernel84 questions
3Topic 202: System Startup79 questions
4Topic 203: Filesystem and Devices97 questions
5Topic 204: Advanced Storage Device Administration92 questions
6Topic 205: Networking Configuration91 questions
7Topic 206: System Maintenance76 questions
8Topic 207: Domain Name Server76 questions
9Topic 208: HTTP Services106 questions
10Topic 209: File Sharing47 questions
11Topic 210: Network Client Management101 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
310concepts
950free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from Linux Professional Institute
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
4official links
310concepts mapped
The source
Linux Professional Institute’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official Linux Professional Institute outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 35 objectives, 310 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When Linux Professional Institute changes the outline, this page changes with it.
35objectives on the outline→310concepts written→950free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.