XK0-006 System Management Practice Question
An administrator needs to permanently mount an ext4 filesystem on /dev/sdb1 to the /data directory. Which file must be edited to ensure the mount persists across reboots?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse runtime mount information (/etc/mtab) with persistent configuration (/etc/fstab), or assuming network or GRUB config files affect filesystem mounts.
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
✓
/etc/fstab
The /etc/fstab file is the system's static filesystem table, read by systemd or the init scripts during boot to mount filesystems automatically. To make a mount persistent, you add an entry specifying the device (/dev/sdb1), mount point (/data), filesystem type (ext4), and options (e.g., defaults). This ensures the kernel mounts the filesystem on every reboot without manual intervention.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
/etc/sysconfig/network
Why it's wrong here
/etc/sysconfig/network holds hostname and networking settings, not mount definitions, so it cannot persist the ext4 mount. It is tempting because it is a persistent configuration file under /etc, and it would be correct for configuring static network interfaces or gateway settings on RHEL-family systems.
- ✗
/etc/default/grub
Why it's wrong here
/etc/default/grub configures kernel boot parameters for GRUB, not filesystem mounts, so editing it leaves /data unmounted after reboot. It is tempting because it is a persistent system configuration file, and it would be the correct choice when changing kernel command-line options such as console or root flags.
- ✓
/etc/fstab
Why this is correct
Editing /etc/fstab defines a persistent mount entry, satisfying the requirement that the ext4 filesystem on /dev/sdb1 survives reboots. Each line specifies the device, mount point (/data), filesystem type and options, which the system reads at boot to mount automatically, unlike temporary mounts made with the mount command.
- ✗
/etc/mtab
Why it's wrong here
/etc/mtab reflects currently mounted filesystems and is regenerated at boot, so edits there vanish and /data stays unmounted. It is tempting because it lists active mounts, resembling the target file, but it would be correct only for inspecting current mount state, not declaring persistent ones.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
File Permissions and Ownership
Key term
Kernel
The kernel is the core program of an operating system that manages hardware resources and provides essential services for all other software to run.
Key term
systemd
systemd is a system and service manager for Linux operating systems that initializes and manages processes, services, and system resources after the kernel boots.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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