This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of essential commands. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Exhibit
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 20G 0 disk
├─sda1 8:1 0 512M 0 part /boot
└─sda2 8:2 0 19.5G 0 part /
sdb 8:16 0 10G 0 disk
└─sdb1 8:17 0 10G 0 part /data
Refer to the exhibit.
The /data directory needs to be resized to 15GB. What is the first step?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Unmount the filesystem.
The first step to resize a filesystem is to unmount it, because most filesystem resizing tools (such as resize2fs for ext4) require the filesystem to be unmounted to safely modify the underlying block device without risking data corruption. Attempting to resize a mounted filesystem can lead to inconsistent metadata and data loss. Unmounting ensures no processes are actively writing to the filesystem during the resize operation.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Unmount the filesystem.
Why this is correct
Unmounting is necessary before any resize operation.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Resize the partition using fdisk.
Why it's wrong here
The partition must be unmounted before modifying it with fdisk.
✗
Create a new partition and copy data.
Why it's wrong here
This is an alternative approach, but not the first step; unmounting is still required.
✗
Resize the filesystem using resize2fs.
Why it's wrong here
The filesystem must be unmounted before resizing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Linux Foundation often tests the misconception that you can resize the filesystem first with resize2fs while it is still mounted, but the correct sequence always begins with unmounting to ensure data integrity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, filesystem resizing involves two distinct operations: first, the partition boundary must be adjusted using a tool like fdisk or parted, and then the filesystem metadata must be updated with resize2fs to match the new partition size. The kernel caches filesystem metadata while mounted, so unmounting flushes all pending writes and invalidates the cache, allowing safe manipulation of the block device. In real-world scenarios, if the filesystem is the root partition, you would need to boot from a live USB or rescue environment to unmount it, as the root filesystem cannot be unmounted while the system is running.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the LFCS 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Essential Commands — This question tests Essential Commands — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Unmount the filesystem. — The first step to resize a filesystem is to unmount it, because most filesystem resizing tools (such as resize2fs for ext4) require the filesystem to be unmounted to safely modify the underlying block device without risking data corruption. Attempting to resize a mounted filesystem can lead to inconsistent metadata and data loss. Unmounting ensures no processes are actively writing to the filesystem during the resize operation.
What should I do if I get this LFCS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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