220-1102 Question 267
Single answernanoA technician is connected to a Linux workstation over SSH and needs to quickly update a configuration file. The senior administrator says, "Use nano so you don't have to remember complex editor commands." After making the required change in nano, the technician wants to save the file and exit cleanly. Which action should the technician take?
- A
Press Ctrl+O to write the changes, press Enter to confirm the filename, and then press Ctrl+X to exit
- B
Press Esc, type :wq, and then press Enter
- C
Press Ctrl+W to save the file and then Ctrl+Q to quit
- D
Press Ctrl+S to save the file and then Alt+F4 to close nano
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Nano is a simple terminal-based text editor commonly used in Linux environments, especially by technicians who need a straightforward tool for editing configuration files. In real-world support scenarios, such as editing files remotely over SSH, nano is often preferred because its command shortcuts are displayed on-screen. The proper process to save changes is Ctrl+O (Write Out), then Enter to confirm the filename, followed by Ctrl+X to exit. This aligns with standard nano usage documented in the GNU nano help and man page (man nano). The incorrect options reflect common confusion with other editors like vi/vim or with GUI application shortcuts, which is exactly the kind of practical distinction A+ Core 2 expects candidates to recognize.
- A. Correct.
Correct. In nano, Ctrl+O performs the Write Out function to save the current file. After confirming the filename with Enter, Ctrl+X exits the editor. This is the standard and practical workflow for saving and closing a file in nano during remote Linux administration.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Esc followed by :wq is associated with vi/vim command mode, not nano. A candidate might choose this because vi/vim is another common Linux text editor, but those commands do not represent the normal save-and-exit process in nano.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. In nano, Ctrl+W is used for searching within the file, not saving. Ctrl+Q is not the normal command to quit nano. This option reflects a common mistake of assuming keyboard shortcuts are similar across different editors or applications.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Ctrl+S is not the standard save command in nano, and Alt+F4 is generally a graphical desktop shortcut rather than a reliable terminal-based nano command, especially over SSH. This distractor targets users who are more familiar with GUI-based applications than terminal editors.