Which of the following lines would you find in the file /etc/nsswitch.conf?

Question

Options

• A192.168.168.4 dns-server
• Bdomain mycompany.com
• Chosts: files dns
• Dsmtp 25/tcp

• A
  18% (9)
• B
  4% (2)
• C
  71% (36)
• D
  8% (4)

Explanation

/etc/nsswitch.conf (Name Service Switch) controls how the system resolves names and other lookups by specifying the order of sources to consult. Option C - hosts: files dns - is a classic line from this file, telling the system to check local files (like /etc/hosts) first, then DNS, when resolving hostnames.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A (192.168.168.4 dns-server) belongs in /etc/resolv.conf or /etc/hosts - it's an IP-to-name mapping or a resolver directive, not a switch configuration.
• B (domain mycompany.com) is a resolv.conf directive that sets the default search domain for DNS queries.
• D (smtp 25/tcp) is from /etc/services, which maps service names to port numbers and protocols.

Memory tip: Think of nsswitch.conf as a traffic director - it doesn't store data itself, it just says where to look (files, dns, ldap, nis, etc.) and in what order. Any line that looks like a category: source source pattern (e.g., hosts: files dns, passwd: files ldap) belongs there.

No community discussion yet for this question.