LPIC-1 Administrative Tasks Practice Question
A small business runs a Linux server hosting a web application and a PostgreSQL database. The server uses LVM for storage, with a single volume group vg_data containing two logical volumes: lv_web (50GB) and lv_db (100GB). The root filesystem is on a separate disk. The administrator receives alerts that the database volume is at 95% capacity. The server has additional unused space from a recently added disk that was added to the volume group as an additional physical volume, but the space has not been allocated. The administrator runs 'vgs' which shows VG vg_data with total size 500GB, allocated 150GB, and free 350GB. The administrator wants to increase the size of lv_db by 50GB. Which course of action should the administrator take?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often forget the '+' sign in 'lvextend -L +50G' (which means add 50GB) versus '-L 50G' (which sets absolute size to 50GB), and they may also incorrectly assume a new physical volume must be added even when free space already exists in the volume group.
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
✓
Run 'lvextend -L +50G /dev/vg_data/lv_db' and then 'resize2fs /dev/vg_data/lv_db' (if filesystem is ext4).
The administrator needs to extend the existing logical volume lv_db by 50GB using 'lvextend -L +50G /dev/vg_data/lv_db' (the '+' is critical for relative growth), and then if the filesystem is ext4, 'resize2fs /dev/vg_data/lv_db' resizes the filesystem to use the newly allocated space. The volume group already has 350GB free, so no new physical volume needs to be added.
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 'lvresize -L 50G /dev/vg_data/lv_db' and then 'xfs_growfs /mount/point'.
Why it's wrong here
lvresize with -L sets absolute size, not +50G; also assumes XFS.
- ✗
Run 'lvcreate -L 50G -n lv_backup vg_data' and mount it.
Why it's wrong here
Creates a new LV, does not extend the database volume.
- ✓
Run 'lvextend -L +50G /dev/vg_data/lv_db' and then 'resize2fs /dev/vg_data/lv_db' (if filesystem is ext4).
Why this is correct
Correct: extends both the LV and filesystem.
- ✗
Run 'vgextend vg_data /dev/sdb1' and then 'lvextend -L 50G /dev/vg_data/lv_db'.
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary vgextend; free space already exists.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.