- A
Format the disk with ext4, add an entry to /etc/fstab using the device path /dev/sdc with the nofail option, then mount -a.
Why wrong: Using device paths like /dev/sdc is not recommended because they can change; UUID is preferred. The nofail option might hide mount failures during boot.
- B
Partition the disk with fdisk, create an ext4 filesystem, create the mount point, mount the filesystem, obtain the UUID, add an entry to /etc/fstab using the UUID, and run mount -a to verify.
This is the correct, standard procedure.
- C
Add the disk to the existing RAID1 array to expand it, then grow the filesystem to use the new space.
Why wrong: Adding a disk to a RAID1 array would make it a 3-disk mirror, which is not the goal; the disk is intended for separate use under /srv/webdata.
- D
Initialize the disk as an LVM physical volume, extend the existing volume group, create a logical volume, format it, mount it, and add to /etc/fstab.
Why wrong: The existing storage is RAID1, not LVM. Mixing LVM on top of RAID would be non-standard and not described in the scenario.
LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. 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.
A medium-sized company runs a web server on Linux with two 1TB disks in a software RAID1 (mdadm) configuration for the root filesystem and /var. Recently, the /var partition is reporting low disk space. The administrator discovers that old log files are consuming space but should be rotated. However, the logrotate service is not running. After starting logrotate, it fails to rotate some logs because of missing directories. Additionally, the administrator wants to add a third disk (500GB SSD) for additional storage and mount it under /srv/webdata. The disk is new and not partitioned. The server uses systemd and the current /etc/fstab uses UUIDs. What is the correct sequence of steps to add the new disk and ensure it is mounted automatically at boot?
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
Partition the disk with fdisk, create an ext4 filesystem, create the mount point, mount the filesystem, obtain the UUID, add an entry to /etc/fstab using the UUID, and run mount -a to verify.
Option B is correct because it follows the standard procedure for adding a new disk to a Linux system: partition the disk (even if only one partition is needed), create a filesystem, create a mount point, mount it, obtain the UUID (e.g., via blkid), add an entry to /etc/fstab using the UUID for reliable boot-time mounting, and verify with mount -a. This ensures the disk is mounted automatically at boot, independent of device name changes, and aligns with systemd's expectation of UUID-based fstab entries.
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.
- ✗
Format the disk with ext4, add an entry to /etc/fstab using the device path /dev/sdc with the nofail option, then mount -a.
Why it's wrong here
Using device paths like /dev/sdc is not recommended because they can change; UUID is preferred. The nofail option might hide mount failures during boot.
- ✓
Partition the disk with fdisk, create an ext4 filesystem, create the mount point, mount the filesystem, obtain the UUID, add an entry to /etc/fstab using the UUID, and run mount -a to verify.
Why this is correct
This is the correct, standard procedure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add the disk to the existing RAID1 array to expand it, then grow the filesystem to use the new space.
Why it's wrong here
Adding a disk to a RAID1 array would make it a 3-disk mirror, which is not the goal; the disk is intended for separate use under /srv/webdata.
- ✗
Initialize the disk as an LVM physical volume, extend the existing volume group, create a logical volume, format it, mount it, and add to /etc/fstab.
Why it's wrong here
The existing storage is RAID1, not LVM. Mixing LVM on top of RAID would be non-standard and not described in the scenario.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think they can skip partitioning (Option A) or assume LVM is always better (Option D), but the LPIC-1 exam expects the standard, safe procedure of partitioning, formatting, and using UUIDs in fstab for a new disk.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
The existing storage is RAID1, not LVM. Mixing LVM on top of RAID would be non-standard and not described in the scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When adding a new disk, partitioning is recommended even for a single partition because it creates a partition table (e.g., MBR or GPT) that allows the system to identify the disk's layout and avoids issues with some tools expecting a partition. The UUID is stored in the filesystem superblock (for ext4) and is used by systemd to mount devices via systemd-fstab-generator, which parses /etc/fstab and creates mount units; using the device path like /dev/sdc can fail if the kernel assigns a different name (e.g., after adding another disk), while UUIDs remain stable. The mount -a command mounts all filesystems listed in /etc/fstab that are not already mounted, providing a quick verification that the fstab entry is correct.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
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Devices, Filesystems and FHS — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this LPIC-1 question test?
Devices, Filesystems and FHS — This question tests Devices, Filesystems and FHS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Partition the disk with fdisk, create an ext4 filesystem, create the mount point, mount the filesystem, obtain the UUID, add an entry to /etc/fstab using the UUID, and run mount -a to verify. — Option B is correct because it follows the standard procedure for adding a new disk to a Linux system: partition the disk (even if only one partition is needed), create a filesystem, create a mount point, mount it, obtain the UUID (e.g., via blkid), add an entry to /etc/fstab using the UUID for reliable boot-time mounting, and verify with mount -a. This ensures the disk is mounted automatically at boot, independent of device name changes, and aligns with systemd's expectation of UUID-based fstab entries.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-1 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LPIC-1 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI 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 LPIC-1 exam.
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