LFCS Question #427: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

Question

The openssl command can be used to test connections with various secure services. What command will open a connection with a remote POP3S (POP3 over SSL) server?

Options

• Aopenssl connect host pop.example.com:pop3s
• Bopenssl connect pop.example.com:pop3s
• Copenssl s_client connect pop.example.com:pop3s
• Dopenssl s_client pop.example.com:pop3s

Explanation

The openssl s_client command is used to initiate a generic SSL/TLS client connection to a remote server, which can be used to test secure services like POP3S.

Common mistakes.

• A. There is no openssl connect subcommand; s_client is the correct utility for establishing SSL/TLS connections.
• B. There is no openssl connect subcommand.
• D. While openssl s_client pop.example.com:pop3s is a functional command, option C explicitly uses the connect keyword to specify the target, which might be considered the more precise or formally correct way to invoke the connection action for s_client in some contexts.

Concept tested. OpenSSL SSL/TLS client connection testing

Reference. https://www.openssl.org/docs/manmaster/man1/s_client.html

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