This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of storage management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Network Topology
Which TWO commands should the administrator run to identify and fix the duplicate PV?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
pvscan --cache
Options A and C are correct. Option A, pvscan --cache, rebuilds the LVM cache to update the view of available PVs and often removes duplicate entries. Option C, vgreduce --removemissing vg00, removes the missing PV from the volume group, which is appropriate after confirming the unknown PV is no longer available. Option B is wrong because vgimportclone is used to import a cloned volume group, not for removing duplicates. Option D is wrong because pvremove is destructive and would remove the PV metadata from /dev/sdc1, which might still be valid. Option E is wrong because adding a new PV does not resolve the duplicate issue.
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.
✓
pvscan --cache
Why this is correct
Rebuilds LVM cache to refresh PV information and often resolves duplicate entries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
vgextend vg00 /dev/sdd1
Why it's wrong here
Adding a new PV does not address the duplicate or missing PV issue.
✓
vgreduce --removemissing vg00
Why this is correct
Removes missing PVs from the volume group, which is the standard way to clean up duplicates after confirming the PV is unavailable.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
vgimportclone /dev/sdc1
Why it's wrong here
vgimportclone is used when a whole volume group is cloned, not for duplicate PV removal.
✗
pvremove /dev/sdc1
Why it's wrong here
pvremove would destroy the PV metadata on /dev/sdc1, but that physical volume may still be needed and working.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 LFCS exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Storage Management — This question tests Storage Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: pvscan --cache — Options A and C are correct. Option A, pvscan --cache, rebuilds the LVM cache to update the view of available PVs and often removes duplicate entries. Option C, vgreduce --removemissing vg00, removes the missing PV from the volume group, which is appropriate after confirming the unknown PV is no longer available. Option B is wrong because vgimportclone is used to import a cloned volume group, not for removing duplicates. Option D is wrong because pvremove is destructive and would remove the PV metadata from /dev/sdc1, which might still be valid. Option E is wrong because adding a new PV does not resolve the duplicate issue.
What should I do if I get this LFCS question wrong?
Identify which LFCS exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation 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 LFCS exam.
Question Discussion
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