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XK0-006 Practice Question: A Linux engineer is troubleshooting a server that…
A Linux engineer is troubleshooting a server that fails to boot. The server displays a message indicating 'Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)'. Which TWO actions should the engineer take to resolve this issue? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse a kernel panic about root filesystem mounting with a bootloader or filesystem corruption issue, leading them to choose GRUB reinstallation (A) or fsck (C) instead of addressing the initramfs or kernel command line.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Boot from a rescue disk and rebuild the initramfs with the necessary filesystem modules
The error 'Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)' indicates the kernel cannot locate or mount the root filesystem. Option B is correct because rebuilding the initramfs from a rescue disk ensures the necessary filesystem drivers (e.g., ext4, xfs) are included, which may have been missing or corrupted. Option D is correct because the root= parameter in the bootloader configuration (e.g., GRUB) tells the kernel which device/partition to mount as root; a typo or incorrect value (e.g., wrong UUID or device name) will cause this exact panic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reinstall GRUB to the Master Boot Record
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling GRUB addresses bootloader issues, not kernel panic due to missing root filesystem.
- ✓
Boot from a rescue disk and rebuild the initramfs with the necessary filesystem modules
Why this is correct
Rebuilding initramfs includes required modules for root filesystem access.
- ✗
Run fsck on the root partition to check for filesystem corruption
Why it's wrong here
fsck repairs filesystem errors but does not fix missing drivers or wrong root= parameter.
- ✓
Check the kernel command line in the bootloader configuration for the correct root= parameter
Why this is correct
Incorrect root= parameter prevents the kernel from finding the root filesystem.
- ✗
Disable SELinux by adding selinux=0 to the kernel command line
Why it's wrong here
SELinux does not affect the kernel's ability to mount the root filesystem.
Visual reference
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux Fundamentals and History
Key term
Value
Value is the perceived worth, benefit, or usefulness that a service, product, or activity delivers to stakeholders, especially customers and the business.
Key term
GRUB
GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) is a boot loader package that loads and manages the operating system startup process on Linux and other Unix-like systems.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This XK0-006 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the XK0-006 exam.