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LFCA · Question #19

Which of the following standard log files would provide the most detailed information on why a recently upgraded custom kernel failed to boot?

The correct answer is B. /var/log/kern.log. The kern.log file contains detailed messages from the Linux kernel, making it the most relevant source for diagnosing kernel boot failures.

Submitted by fernanda_arg· May 4, 2026System Administration

Question

Which of the following standard log files would provide the most detailed information on why a recently upgraded custom kernel failed to boot?

Options

  • A/var/log/boot.log
  • B/var/log/kern.log
  • C/var/log/svslog
  • D/var/log/auth.log

How the community answered

(61 responses)
  • A
    2% (1)
  • B
    95% (58)
  • D
    3% (2)

Why each option

The `kern.log` file contains detailed messages from the Linux kernel, making it the most relevant source for diagnosing kernel boot failures.

A/var/log/boot.log

`/var/log/boot.log` contains messages from services that start during the boot process, but `/var/log/kern.log` is more specific to kernel-level issues.

B/var/log/kern.logCorrect

The `/var/log/kern.log` file specifically contains messages from the Linux kernel, including information about kernel modules, device drivers, and system core operations, which would be crucial for diagnosing a custom kernel boot failure.

C/var/log/svslog

`/var/log/svslog` is not a standard Linux log file; the correct standard file is usually `syslog` or `messages`.

D/var/log/auth.log

`/var/log/auth.log` records authentication and authorization events, not kernel boot issues.

Concept tested: Linux system logging

Source: https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man5/syslog.conf.5.html

Topics

#Linux Logs#Kernel Troubleshooting#Boot Process#Log Analysis

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