Quick Answer
The correct answer is /etc/fstab and /etc/nfsmount.conf. The /etc/fstab file is the system’s filesystem table, which defines all block devices, swap partitions, and remote filesystems that should be mounted automatically at boot; for NFS shares, you add an entry with the nfs or nfs4 filesystem type, specifying the server and export path. The /etc/nfsmount.conf file sets default mount options for NFS shares, such as protocol version, read/write size, and timeouts, ensuring consistent behavior across all NFS mounts without needing to repeat options in fstab. On the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 exam, this question tests your understanding of persistent network mounts, and a common trap is forgetting that /etc/nfsmount.conf is separate from /etc/fstab—students often only edit fstab and miss the configuration file that controls NFS-specific parameters. A helpful memory tip: think of fstab as the “what to mount” list and nfsmount.conf as the “how to mount” rules for NFS.
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of system management. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is configuring a system to automatically mount an NFS share at boot. Which two files must be edited or created? (Choose two.)
/etc/auto.master
Why wrong: auto.master is for autofs, not direct boot mounting.
/etc/exports
Why wrong: exports is used on the NFS server to share directories.
/etc/nfs.conf
Why wrong: nfs.conf is for NFS server daemon configuration.
/etc/nfsmount.conf
nfsmount.conf sets default NFS mount options.
/etc/fstab
fstab defines filesystems to mount at boot.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
/etc/nfsmount.conf
Option D is correct because `/etc/nfsmount.conf` is the NFS configuration file that can be used to set default mount options for NFS shares, such as protocol version, read/write size, and timeouts. Option E is correct because `/etc/fstab` is the standard file system table that defines how block devices, remote filesystems, and swap partitions are mounted at boot, including NFS shares with the `nfs` or `nfs4` filesystem type.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
/etc/auto.master
Why it's wrong here
auto.master is for autofs, not direct boot mounting.
/etc/exports
Why it's wrong here
exports is used on the NFS server to share directories.
/etc/nfs.conf
Why it's wrong here
nfs.conf is for NFS server daemon configuration.
/etc/nfsmount.conf
Why this is correct
nfsmount.conf sets default NFS mount options.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/etc/fstab
Why this is correct
fstab defines filesystems to mount at boot.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the client-side NFS mount configuration file (`/etc/nfsmount.conf`) with the server-side configuration file (`/etc/nfs.conf`), or mistakenly think the automounter's `/etc/auto.master` is used for persistent boot-time mounts.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, when `/etc/fstab` contains an NFS entry, the `mount` command calls the `/sbin/mount.nfs` helper, which reads `/etc/nfsmount.conf` for default options like `vers=4.2` or `rsize=1048576`. A real-world scenario is tuning NFS performance by setting `rsize` and `wsize` in `/etc/nfsmount.conf` to match network MTU, avoiding fragmentation without editing each fstab entry.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the XK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
System Management — This question tests System Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: /etc/nfsmount.conf — Option D is correct because `/etc/nfsmount.conf` is the NFS configuration file that can be used to set default mount options for NFS shares, such as protocol version, read/write size, and timeouts. Option E is correct because `/etc/fstab` is the standard file system table that defines how block devices, remote filesystems, and swap partitions are mounted at boot, including NFS shares with the `nfs` or `nfs4` filesystem type.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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