You are asked to troubleshoot networking issues on an unfamiliar system. Select the correct command to display what network devices are installed.

Question

Options

• Aifconfig -a
• Bdladm show-dev
• Cdladm show-phys
• Ddladm show-ether
• Enetadm show-dev
• Fnetadm show-ether

• A
  3% (1)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  88% (28)
• D
  6% (2)

Explanation

dladm show-phys is correct because it displays physical datalink devices - the actual network hardware installed on the system. On Solaris/illumos, dladm is the modern data link management utility, and the show-phys subcommand specifically reports installed physical network adapters (name, media type, speed, duplex, state, etc.).

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A. ifconfig -a - shows configured network interfaces (logical/IP layer), not necessarily all installed hardware; also a Linux-centric tool that predates Solaris's modern network stack.
• B. dladm show-dev - not a valid dladm subcommand in modern Solaris/illumos (it was deprecated/removed).
• D. dladm show-ether - shows Ethernet-specific link properties (speed, duplex, autoneg), not a general device inventory.
• E. netadm show-dev and F. netadm show-ether - netadm manages network configuration profiles (like switching between home/office profiles), not hardware enumeration; neither subcommand exists for listing devices.

Memory tip: Think "phys → physical hardware." If someone asks what's installed, you need the physical layer - dladm show-**phys**.

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