15 Linux Interview Questions (With Sample Answers)

Interviews can be challenging, but they also offer opportunities for growth and development. Practising with potential interview questions is one way to level up your confidence. Depending on the role and company you’re interviewing for, you’ll encounter technical and behavioural questions. 

Engineers, developers, and systems administrators will likely face questions about Linux operating systems. If you do not know the answer during an interview, explain how you would find the answer and your thought process for moving forward. 

Read on to discover some common questions you might encounter in an interview and how to answer them.

15 Linux interview questions and answers

Linux is an open-source operating system that many consider faster and more efficient than other operating systems like Windows. Below is a range of technical and behavioral questions about Linux so that you can prepare for the interview in one place.

Technical questions

Linux is just one of several operating systems including Apple’s macOS and Microsoft’s Windows, that developers and programmers use. To land a job in this field, you’ll likely encounter technical questions and need to complete a coding problem or a take-home project.

1. What is Linux?

With this question, the interviewer is examining what you know about Linux. As a developer or programmer, you’re expected to be able to explain the systems and processes you work with clearly and accurately. Linux is a Unix-like, open-source operating system developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. You can also mention its features, such as security based on authentication and access control, application support, and customisable keywords.

2. What are the basic components of Linux?

Linux’s architecture consists of the following components:

• Kernel: The kernel is the core part of Linux OS and is responsible for operations and communication between hardware and software.

• Shell: The shell is an environment where the Linux operator runs commands, programs, and scripts. It is the interface between the user and kernel that executes commands.

• System utility: These software functions allow the user to manage the computer.

• Applications: These are software programs designed to accomplish specific tasks.

What are the real basic components?

Keep in mind that different sources might cite varying core components of Linux. Whether you choose to list three or five components, to include “hardware” or not, explaining why these are the basic components is more important.

3. What is LILO?

LILO stands for Linux Loader, a boot loader used by the Linux operating system. Most Linux OSs use LILO as a master or secondary program to boot the operating system into main memory and perform functions.

4. What is BASH?

BASH stands for Bourne Again Shell, a command language interpreter similar to and interchangeable with Bourne Shell. BASH has some extra features and is the default user shell on many Linux installations. It can also read commands from shell scripts.

5. What is swap space?

A swap space is space on a hard disk used when RAM is full. It can be an extension of RAM when the original RAM doesn’t have enough space to run all the programs or as a substitute for physical memory.

6. What is the difference between Unix and Linux? 

Unix is a proprietary OS with commercial versions, while Linux is free, open-source, and non-proprietary. In other words, Linux is “for the people.”

7. What are shells used in Linux?

Shells that are commonly used in Linux include the following:

• bash (Bourne Again Shell): This is the default shell of most Linux systems.

• zsh (Z Shell): Default shell for Kali Linux and macOS 

• ksh (Korn Shell): High-level programming language shell

• Csh (C Shell): Borrows from C programming language

• tcsh (Tenex Shell): This command-line shell is based on the C Shell.

8. What are process states in Linux?

Process states in Linux include the following:

• New/Ready: This is when a process is ready to run

• Running: This is when a process is being executed

• Blocked/Waiting: The process needs input or a system resource

• Terminated/Completed: The process has been completed or terminated by the OS

• Zombie: When a process has been paused, but information is still available

9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of open source?

Open source is free and available to the public, so users can download the file and change the code as desired. As long as they use the same licence, they can even sell copies of the modified code. The disadvantages of open source include the possibility that it can make the software less compatible with other hardware and systems and more challenging to use. Open source also lacks user support because potentially thousands of contributors created it, which belongs to the public.

Fun fact: The world’s largest open-source software project

Linux is the world’s largest open-source software project. Anyone can run, analyse, and redistribute the source code. Programmers and developers from different industries constantly add features, fix bugs and security flaws, and share new code ideas. Open source is an excellent way for developers to give back to the community.

10. What are the different types of file permissions in Linux?

In Linux, three different types of file permissions are available for use by three types of owners (user, group, others):

• Read: Users can open and view the file but may not modify or run it.

• Write: Users can open and modify the file but not execute it.

• Execute: Users can execute the file.

Behavioural and situational questions

Across industries, hiring managers ask behavioural questions to assess a candidate's performance in the workplace. Some of the key behavioural questions you may encounter are as follows: 

11. How do you approach solving a problem?

This question spotlights your problem-solving skills. Explain how you might approach a problem when it arises, starting with brainstorming, researching, or testing several potential solutions. You could elevate your response by providing an example of how you approached a relevant problem in the past using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result).

12. Describe your development process, from gathering requirements to deployment.

As a developer or programmer, you’re expected to have your own development process and know how to explain it clearly to developers and non-developers. Your answer is less about being right or wrong and more about how well you can describe the process, which usually means you have your own process and know it well.

13. Can you describe a time you fixed an especially difficult bug? How did you resolve it?

With this question, hiring managers assess your technical skills and process for resolving issues. Did you have to tinker with it? How did you go about finding potential fixes? They want to see how you explain your thinking.

14. when did you decide between technical feasibility and business impact? What was the outcome?

This question is about understanding how you made the decision. It doesn’t matter what the trade-off was—why did you make the choice you did? Here, they want to know your principles and how you decide while still considering the larger stakeholders involved.

15. Tell me about a situation where you dealt with failure. 

While it may be tempting to twist this failure into a success in your answer, try to answer this question honestly. In most jobs, people will deal with some failure. This question helps assess your ability to explain what happened, how you dealt with it, what the outcome was, and, more importantly, what you learned from it. They want to know that you possess the workplace skills to come out on the other side of failure stronger and better.

Tips to prepare for your interview

Below are some tips and resources to help you bring your best to your Linux interview.

• Do your research: Chances are, you already know a little bit about the company you’re interviewing for. However, it’s always a good idea to be thorough. Take a look at the organisation’s website and recent news, and research potential managers or colleagues on LinkedIn to get a better understanding of who is interviewing you. Be prepared to know the lingo for whatever job role you’re pursuing.

• Prepare some sample answers: Taking the time to prepare your answers to common interview questions, both technical and behavioural, can help you feel more at ease during the interview. As a bonus, if you stumble upon something you don’t know, you can review it beforehand.

• Ask questions: Your time with the hiring manager is precious. You’ll want to take advantage of being able to ask questions to assess the fit—is this the right job for you? Asking questions about the company’s vision, culture, and flexibility at the end of the interview can give you deep insights into whether you want to work there.

Build your Linux skills with Google.

Linux is a Unix-like, open-source operating system popular for various reasons, including its versatility, security, and stability. Continue learning to use systems such as Linux, command-line interfaces, and binary code. While cultivating your IT skills, you can earn a Google IT Support Professional Certificate in about six months.