LFCS Storage Management Practice Question
A junior administrator needs to add a new 2 TiB disk, /dev/sdc, to a server and create a single GPT partition that spans the entire disk. The disk currently has no partition table. Which command will create the GPT partition table and the partition in one interactive session?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is choosing a familiar partitioning tool without confirming it can create GPT, or mistaking GPT for a filesystem.
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
✓
gdisk /dev/sdc
To create a GPT partition table and a full-disk partition on /dev/sdc, gdisk is the dedicated interactive tool. It supports GPT natively and handles large disks. fdisk may work but is traditionally MBR-oriented, mkfs.gpt is nonexistent, and the parted command shown creates an MBR label instead of GPT. gdisk is the correct choice.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
gdisk /dev/sdc
Why this is correct
gdisk is an interactive GPT fdisk utility. It can create a new GPT partition table and then create a partition spanning the entire disk. It is designed specifically for GPT and handles large disks over 2 TiB. This is the appropriate tool for the scenario.
- ✗
fdisk /dev/sdc
Why it's wrong here
fdisk historically supported only MBR, which limits partitions to 2 TiB. Although modern fdisk can handle GPT, the classic behavior and many exam environments associate it with MBR. For a 2 TiB disk and GPT requirement, gdisk is more explicit and reliable. fdisk may not create the desired GPT layout without extra steps.
- ✗
mkfs.gpt /dev/sdc
Why it's wrong here
mkfs.gpt is not a standard Linux command. There is no filesystem called GPT; GPT is a partition table format, not a filesystem. This command does not exist and would fail. The administrator needs a partitioning tool, not a filesystem creation tool.
- ✗
parted /dev/sdc mklabel msdos
Why it's wrong here
This command creates an MBR (msdos) disk label, not GPT. MBR cannot address a full 2 TiB partition and is limited to 2 TiB total disk size. The requirement is GPT, so this command is incorrect. parted can create GPT with mklabel gpt, but the given syntax creates the wrong label type.
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Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Linux Foundation exam blueprint
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