Question 125 of 144
SK0-005 server-administration Practice Question
A junior administrator is managing a Linux server used by a development team. The root filesystem (/) has reached 98% capacity, causing the system to slow down and some applications to fail. The server has an LVM volume group with 20 GB of free space, but the root logical volume is 50 GB with an ext4 filesystem. The administrator needs to free space quickly and safely without rebooting or adding new disks. They log in via SSH and want to identify where the large files are and then take action. There are concerns about accidentally deleting critical system files or logs that might be needed for auditing. The server has the following typical directories: /var (with logs), /home (user files), /opt (application files), /tmp. Which of the following sequences of actions is the most appropriate to resolve the issue?
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
✓
Run 'du -sh /*' to locate large directories, then examine and compress or truncate old log files in /var/log
Option A is correct because it uses 'du -sh /*' to safely identify the largest directories, then targets specific log files in /var/log that can be compressed or moved, freeing space without deleting required files. Option B is wrong because blindly removing all files in /tmp may delete needed temporary files for running applications. Option C is wrong because using 'find' with 'exec rm' is very dangerous and could delete critical files if misused. Option D is wrong because resizing the filesystem, while possible with LVM, should be considered after attempting to free space safely; also the free space in VG might be needed elsewhere.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Run 'du -sh /*' to locate large directories, then examine and compress or truncate old log files in /var/log
Why this is correct
This safely identifies space hogs and allows selective removal/compression of non-critical logs, resolving the immediate issue.
- ✗
Execute 'rm -rf /tmp/*' to clear temporary files and regain space
Why it's wrong here
This may disrupt running processes that rely on files in /tmp and is not a thorough solution; logs are more likely to consume space.
- ✗
Use 'find / -type f -size +100M -exec rm {} \;' to delete all files larger than 100MB
Why it's wrong here
This is extremely dangerous because it may delete important application or system files without discrimination.
- ✗
Extend the root logical volume by 10 GB using 'lvextend' and then resize the filesystem with 'resize2fs'
Why it's wrong here
While feasible, this is a reactive measure that doesn't address the accumulation of unnecessary files and might encourage poor storage hygiene; cleaning up first is best practice.
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Last reviewed: Jul 26, 2026
This SK0-005 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 SK0-005 exam.
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