hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
XK0-006 /etc/fstab Practice Question
A user reports that their home directory is missing after a system reboot. The /home partition is listed in /etc/fstab with an incorrect UUID. What is the most likely outcome?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common misconception is that any fstab error causes a complete boot failure. On Linux, only the root filesystem or partitions explicitly marked as required (without 'nofail') will halt the boot. An incorrect UUID for a non-root partition like /home typically results in a successful boot with that partition unmounted.
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
✓
The system will boot but fail to mount /home
When /etc/fstab contains an incorrect UUID for /home, the mount command fails to mount /home during boot. However, unless the filesystem is explicitly marked as required (e.g., with the 'nofail' option omitted for critical partitions), the boot process continues. The default behavior for non-root filesystems is to allow booting even if the mount fails, resulting in a missing /home directory. Option C is correct because the system boots normally but /home is not mounted, leading to the user's reported issue. Option D is incorrect because a failed mount of a non-critical partition like /home does not halt the boot process.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The system will boot normally and mount /home using the device name
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The system does not fall back to device name automatically; it will try the UUID and fail.
- ✗
The system will prompt the user to enter the correct UUID
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The system does not prompt for input; it logs an error and continues booting.
- ✓
The system will boot but fail to mount /home
Why this is correct
Correct. The system boots normally but fails to mount /home, resulting in the missing directory.
- ✗
The system will fail to boot entirely
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Only critical filesystems (like root or those without 'nofail') cause a boot halt; /home is typically non-critical.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Navigating the Filesystem
Key term
User
A user is any person, system, or device that interacts with an IT service, resource, or identity system, typically authenticated through credentials and authorized to perform specific actions.
Key term
Outcome
An outcome is the measurable result of a service, process, or activity, often tied to business value and customer satisfaction.
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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.