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Exam Information
Official specifications published by LPI
Exam Format
90 min
60
500
Expert
Registration
$200 USD
Pearson VUE or online proctoring
Validity
5 years
Pass the current version of LPIC-3 300 exam; Pass any other LPIC-3 specialty exam; Pass any higher-level LPI exam
300-100 Exam Topics and Domains
300-100 is organized into 5 weighted domains. Expect to work with Kerberos, LDAP, NSS, PAM, and more.
1
Samba Basics
11%
Samba Concepts and Architecture
Samba Server ProcessesSMB Protocol VersionsClustering and High Availability
- Understand the various Samba server processes and their roles
- Know the networking protocols used by Samba in various roles
- Understand heterogeneous networking challenges
- Be aware of clustering using CTDB
Samba Configuration
Configuration File ManagementSecurity ConfigurationConfiguration Validation
- Configure Samba using file-based and registry-based methods
- Understand smb.conf parameters and syntax
- Configure TLS and security modes
- Validate configuration using testparm and samba-regedit
Regular Samba Maintenance
Daemon MonitoringDatabase Backup and RecoveryDomain Controller Recovery
- Monitor Samba daemons using smbcontrol and smbstatus
- Perform TDB file backup and restore operations
- Understand domain controller recovery strategies
Troubleshooting Samba
Logging ConfigurationPassword Database ManagementDatabase Analysis
- Configure logging for troubleshooting
- Manipulate password databases using smbpasswd and pdbedit
- Analyze TDB files and use LDAP tools for directory modifications
2
Samba and Active Directory Domains
17%
Samba as Active Directory Domain Controller
Domain Creation and ManagementReplication ManagementFSMO RolesInfrastructure Services Integration
- Establish new Active Directory domains using Samba
- Join Samba to existing Active Directory domains
- Manage replication and SYSVOL synchronization
- Configure and manage FSMO roles
- Integrate DNS, Kerberos, and NTP services
Active Directory Name Resolution
Internal DNS ManagementDNS ForwardingMulticast DNS
- Manage internal DNS using samba-tool dns
- Configure DNS forwarding
- Understand multicast DNS awareness
Active Directory User Management
User and Group AdministrationUPN and NamingRFC2307 AttributesKerberos Service Principals
- Manage users and groups in standalone and AD environments
- Configure User Principal Names and UPN suffixes
- Manage RFC2307 attributes for Unix integration
- Create and manage Kerberos service principal names
Samba Domain Membership
Domain Join ConfigurationWinbind ConfigurationID Mapping BackendsPAM and NSS Integration
- Join Samba servers to Active Directory domains
- Configure Winbind service for domain membership
- Implement various idmap backends (ad, autorid, ldap, rfc2307, rid, tdb, tdb2)
- Integrate with PAM and NSS systems
Samba Local User Management
Local Password DatabaseUser Management ToolsPassword Synchronization
- Set up local password databases using passdb backends
- Use smbpasswd and pdbedit for user management
- Configure password synchronization with Unix accounts
3
Samba Share Configuration
10%
File Share Configuration
CIFS Share CreationAccess ControlsRegistry-Based SharesHome DirectoriesVFS Modules
- Create CIFS shares with access controls
- Configure user and host-based restrictions
- Implement registry-based share configuration
- Set up home directory shares
- Understand VFS modules for audit logging and shadow copies
File Share Security
ACL TypesACL Management ToolsShare Encryption
- Understand POSIX, Extended POSIX, and Windows ACL formats
- Use smbcacls and sharesec tools for ACL management
- Configure SMB encryption using smb encrypt parameter
DFS Share Configuration
Distributed File System
Set up Distributed File System with msdfs root and proxy parameters
Print Share Configuration
CUPS IntegrationWindows Driver ManagementPrinter Sharing
- Integrate Samba with CUPS printing system
- Manage Windows print drivers
- Configure printer sharing
4
Samba Client Configuration
11%
Linux Authentication Clients
NSS and PAM ConfigurationSSSD IntegrationPassword Policy EnforcementKerberos Ticket Management
- Configure NSS and PAM for LDAP and Kerberos authentication
- Integrate SSSD for AD, IPA, and LDAP domains
- Enforce password policies using pam_faillock and related modules
- Manage Kerberos tickets using kinit, klist, and kdestroy
Linux CIFS Clients
SMB Client ToolsCIFS MountingCredential ManagementQuota Management
- Access remote shares using smbclient
- Mount CIFS shares using mount.cifs
- Store credentials securely using cifscreds
- Manage quotas using smbcquotas
Windows Clients
Domain JoiningGroup PolicyRoaming ProfilesLogon Scripts
- Join Windows clients to AD domains
- Create and modify Group Policy Objects
- Configure roaming profiles
- Set up script-based logon configuration
5
Linux Identity Management and File Sharing
11%
FreeIPA Installation and Maintenance
FreeIPA Server InstallationReplication TopologyClient Integration
- Install FreeIPA server using ipa-server-install
- Configure replication topology
- Integrate clients using ipa-client-install
FreeIPA Entity Management
User and Host ManagementAccess ControlID ViewsIntegration Features
- Manage users, hosts, and service accounts
- Configure access control via permissions, privileges, and roles
- Set up ID view configuration
- Understand sudo, autofs, and SELinux integration
FreeIPA Active Directory Integration
Cross-Forest TrustsID Range ConfigurationExternal Group Management
- Establish cross-forest Kerberos trusts with Active Directory
- Configure ID range allocation
- Manage external group integration with AD
Network File System
NFSv4 Server SetupNFSv4 Client ConfigurationNFSv4 ACLsKerberos Authentication
- Set up NFSv4 server with pseudo filesystem
- Configure NFSv4 clients
- Manage NFSv4 ACLs using nfs4_setfacl and nfs4_getfacl
- Implement Kerberos authentication for NFS
How do I earn this certification?
Passing 300-100 earns the LPIC-3 Mixed Environments certification. It sits in the LPIC Professional Certification track.
Current Level Exams
- 300-100 - LPIC-3 Mixed Environments (Version 1.0)Retired February 23, 2022, replaced by 300-300
- 300-300 - LPIC-3 Exam 300: Mixed Environments (Version 3.0)Current version as of 2026
Next Level Options
No higher certification level Consider pursuing other LPIC-3 specialties or vendor-specific certifications
Alternative Paths
- 303-200 - LPIC-3 Security (Version 2.0)Complementary security specialization for comprehensive Linux administration
- 303-300 - LPIC-3 Security (Version 3.0)Current security specialization covering cryptography, access control, and application security
- 305-300 - LPIC-3 Virtualization and Containerization (Version 3.0)Modern infrastructure skills with containers and virtualization platforms
- 306-300 - LPIC-3 High Availability and Storage Clusters (Version 3.0)Enterprise-grade high availability and storage clustering expertise
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for 300-100 is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- RETIRED
- Last content update: 2015-04-01
- Announcement date: 2021-08-23
Updates
- Samba 4 4.20.x (current stable) Version 3.0 exam (300-300) covers Samba 4.8+, current releases maintain backward compatibility • Release date: 2024-06-15
- FreeIPA 4.11.x (current) Core FreeIPA concepts remain stable; new features in trust management and replica topology • Release date: 2024-01-20
- NFSv4 NFSv4.2 NFSv4 fundamentals unchanged; exam focuses on core features and Kerberos integration • Release date: Ongoing Linux kernel updates
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by Linux system administrators managing mixed environments and Enterprise IT professionals working with Samba and Active Directory.
Active LPIC-2 certification
- Hands-on experience with Samba administration
- Understanding of Active Directory concepts
- Familiarity with LDAP and Kerberos
- Experience with mixed Linux/Windows environments