Exam guide
How to Pass the LPI LPIC-2 201-450 in 2026: Format, Cost, Domains and Study Plan
Updated 8 Nov 2026 · 5 min read
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What the LPI LPIC-2 201-450 is and who it is for
LPIC-2 is the second certification in the multi-level professional certification programme of the Linux Professional Institute (LPI). LPI says it validates the candidate's ability to administer small to medium sized mixed networks. To become LPIC-2 certified you must pass two exams, 201-450 and 202-450, and hold an active LPIC-1 certification. This guide covers 201-450, which LPI lists with these topics: Capacity Planning, Linux Kernel, System Startup, Filesystem and Devices, Advanced Storage Device Administration, Networking Configuration and System Maintenance.
LPI describes the certified candidate as able to perform advanced system administration, including common tasks regarding the Linux kernel, system startup and maintenance, advanced management of block storage and file systems, advanced networking and authentication and system security, including firewall and VPN. It also lists installing and configuring fundamental network services, including DHCP, DNS, SSH, web servers, file servers using FTP, NFS and Samba, and email delivery, and supervising assistants and advising management on automation and purchases.
LPI lists version 4.5 of the objectives for the exam codes 201-450 and 202-450, and its pages show no retirement notice. The objectives page also says the exams may be taken in any order, as long as all the requirements are met, so 201-450 can be taken before or after 202-450.
LPI LPIC-2 201-450 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam code | 201-450 (objectives version 4.5) |
| Questions | 60 multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions |
| Time allowed | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 500 on a scale of 200 to 800 |
| Exam fee | Varies by region. LPI's exam pricing page asks you to select your country to see the price |
| Languages | Test centres: English, German, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian). Online through OnVUE: English (LPI's online testing page says English only, while the LPIC-2 page also lists Japanese) |
| Where you sit it | Pearson VUE test centres, or online through OnVUE |
| Prerequisite | An active LPIC-1 certification is needed to receive the LPIC-2 certification |
| Certification valid for | 5 years |
What is on the exam
LPI standardised all LPIC exam weights to a total of 60, and it says each weight point is one question. A topic with a weight of 11 therefore means about 11 questions out of 60. The topic weights below are the sums of the objective weights on LPI's objectives page and add up to 60.
Topic 200, Capacity Planning (weight 8). The objectives and their weights are: Measure and Troubleshoot Resource Usage (6), Predict Future Resource Needs (2).
Topic 201, Linux Kernel (weight 9). The objectives and their weights are: Kernel components (2), Compiling a Linux kernel (3), Kernel runtime management and troubleshooting (4).
Topic 202, System Startup (weight 9). The objectives and their weights are: Customizing system startup (3), System recovery (4), Alternate Bootloaders (2).
Topic 203, Filesystem and Devices (weight 9). The objectives and their weights are: Operating the Linux filesystem (4), Maintaining a Linux filesystem (3), Creating and configuring filesystem options (2).
Topic 204, Advanced Storage Device Administration (weight 8). The objectives and their weights are: Configuring RAID (3), Adjusting Storage Device Access (2), Logical Volume Manager (3).
Topic 205, Networking Configuration (weight 11). The objectives and their weights are: Basic networking configuration (3), Advanced Network Configuration (4), Troubleshooting network issues (4).
Topic 206, System Maintenance (weight 6). The objectives and their weights are: Make and install programs from source (2), Backup operations (3), Notify users on system-related issues (1).
Why people fail it
The first reason is the breadth of the syllabus. Exam 201 spreads 60 questions over seven topics, from capacity planning to system maintenance, and no topic carries fewer than 6 questions. Topic 205, Networking Configuration, is the heaviest at 11, so thin knowledge of one area costs marks.
The second is that the format includes fill-in-the-blank questions as well as multiple-choice. LPI's objectives lists name specific files, terms and utilities, such as iostat, vmstat and sar for measuring resource usage, so expect to supply exact commands and names rather than only recognise an option.
The third is misreading the score. LPI scores on a scale of 200 to 800 with a pass at 500, and the number of correct answers needed depends on the questions you receive, so you cannot convert 500 into a fixed percentage.
The fourth is the pace. Sixty questions in 90 minutes is 90 seconds each. Practise at full length before the day.
A study plan that fits the exam
This six week plan gives the most time to the heaviest topics. Start with the objectives page on lpi.org, then try the free 201-450 practice questions to find your starting point. LPI says its objectives show the relative importance of each topic and that reviewing them should be at the core of any study plan.
- Week 1, Topics 200 and 201 (17 points): capacity planning, resource measurement and prediction, then kernel components, compiling a kernel, and runtime management and troubleshooting.
- Week 2, Topics 202 and 203 (18 points): customising system startup, system recovery and alternate bootloaders, then operating, maintaining and configuring Linux filesystems.
- Week 3, Topics 204 and 206 (14 points): RAID, adjusting storage device access and Logical Volume Manager, then building programs from source, backup operations and notifying users.
- Week 4, Topic 205 (11 points): basic and advanced network configuration and troubleshooting network issues, with hands-on practice on a Linux system.
- Week 5, weak areas: redo the topics where you missed questions and re-read the matching objectives. The topic with the most points you still miss goes first.
- Week 6, timed runs: sit sets of 60 questions in 90 minutes and review every miss against the objectives. The CertStash LPIC-2 201-450 pack has 120 questions, enough for two full runs without repeats.
On exam day
You can sit the exam in a Pearson VUE test centre or online through the Pearson VUE OnVUE platform. LPI's online testing page says candidates need a quiet, private location, a reliable computer with a camera and a stable internet connection, and that LPI's exam prices and lengths are the same online as in test centres.
The exam has 60 questions in 90 minutes, so you have 90 seconds per question on average. LPI says you receive your results and a score report immediately after the exam, and that Pearson VUE transfers your result to LPI within 24 hours. If you have met the certification requirements, LPI issues your certification.
Questions vary in difficulty, so LPI says the number of correct answers needed to reach the passing score of 500 depends on the exact combination of questions you receive.
Frequently asked questions
Can I retake the exam if I fail?
Yes, with a waiting period. LPI's policy says that if you take an exam once, you must wait one week before retaking it, and that a second and any later retake needs a wait of 14 days. Someone who passes an exam may not retake it for at least two years.
Do I need LPIC-1 first?
LPI says you must hold an active LPIC-1 certification to receive the LPIC-2 certification, and that you must pass both the 201 and 202 exams. The objectives page says the exams may be taken in any order but all of the requirements must be met.
How long does the certification last?
LPI gives the validity period as 5 years. To renew, LPI lists three options: membership, which keeps your certifications active as long as dues and professional development units are maintained, obtaining a higher level of certification, or passing the current version of the exams again.
Is the practice pack enough on its own?
No. It is practice, not a course. The 120 201-450 questions show you how topics are tested and where your gaps are, but you still need to learn the material from the LPI objectives and hands-on work on a Linux system. Use the pack to test what you have learned.
When you are ready to practise at full length, get the complete LPI LPIC-2 201-450 practice pack for US$39, with a pass or money back guarantee.
Sources
The official pages the facts in this guide were checked against.
What people say about this pack
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