LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
A Linux administrator needs to create a new ext4 filesystem on a logical volume /dev/vg0/lv_data and mount it persistently at /data. Which TWO of the following steps are required to accomplish this? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse LVM creation steps with filesystem creation and persistent mounting, or thinking that mount -a is mandatory.
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
✓
Add an entry for /dev/vg0/lv_data in /etc/fstab
To create and persistently mount a new ext4 filesystem on an existing logical volume, the administrator must first create the filesystem with mkfs.ext4, then add an entry to /etc/fstab to ensure it mounts at boot. Other commands like pvcreate, vgcreate, and mount -a are either incorrect or not strictly required for this task.
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 pvcreate /dev/vg0/lv_data
Why it's wrong here
pvcreate initializes a physical volume for use by LVM. In this scenario, the logical volume /dev/vg0/lv_data already exists, so pvcreate is not needed and would actually destroy data if run on an existing LV. This step is part of creating a volume group, not for formatting and mounting a filesystem.
- ✓
Add an entry for /dev/vg0/lv_data in /etc/fstab
Why this is correct
To mount the filesystem persistently at /data, an entry must be added to /etc/fstab. This ensures the filesystem is mounted automatically at boot or with mount -a. The entry typically includes the device, mount point, filesystem type, and options. Without this, the mount would not persist across reboots.
- ✓
Run mkfs.ext4 /dev/vg0/lv_data
Why this is correct
mkfs.ext4 creates an ext4 filesystem on the logical volume. This is a required step before mounting. Without a filesystem, the volume cannot be mounted or used. The command writes the ext4 superblock, inode tables, and journal to the logical volume, preparing it for use.
- ✗
Run mount -a to mount all filesystems
Why it's wrong here
mount -a mounts all filesystems listed in /etc/fstab that are not already mounted. While it can be used after adding the fstab entry, it is not strictly required if the system will be rebooted or if the administrator manually mounts the filesystem. The essential steps are creating the filesystem and adding the fstab entry. mount -a is a convenience, not a mandatory step.
- ✗
Run vgcreate vg0 /dev/vg0/lv_data
Why it's wrong here
vgcreate creates a volume group from physical volumes. Here, the volume group vg0 already exists, and /dev/vg0/lv_data is a logical volume, not a physical volume. Running vgcreate on a logical volume would fail and is not part of the required steps. This command is used during initial LVM setup, not for formatting and mounting.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official LPI exam blueprint
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