LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
A system administrator is responsible for a Linux server running a critical application. The server recently experienced an unplanned power outage. Upon rebooting, the system fails to reach the default target and drops into an emergency shell. The administrator notices that the root filesystem (/) is mounted read-only. The /etc/fstab file contains the following lines:
UUID=abc123 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1 UUID=def456 /home ext4 defaults 0 2 UUID=ghi789 none swap sw 0 0
The administrator suspects that the /home filesystem has a corrupt superblock and is causing the boot failure. The administrator needs to check and repair the /home filesystem without causing data loss. Which of the following is the correct course of action?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume fsck can be run safely from the emergency shell on a mounted filesystem, but LPIC-1 emphasizes that fsck must only be run on unmounted filesystems to prevent data corruption.
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
✓
Boot from a live USB, run 'fsck /dev/sdb1' on the unmounted filesystem, then reboot.
The /home filesystem is suspected to have a corrupt superblock, and running fsck on an unmounted filesystem from a live USB is the safest way to check and repair it without risking further damage. The emergency shell mounts the root filesystem read-only, and /home cannot be reliably checked while mounted or without proper access to its device node. Booting from a live USB ensures the filesystem is not in use, allowing fsck to safely repair the superblock or use an alternate superblock if needed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reinstall the system from backup because the superblock corruption is fatal.
Why it's wrong here
Superblock corruption is often repairable with fsck using an alternate superblock; reinstallation is not the first step.
- ✓
Boot from a live USB, run 'fsck /dev/sdb1' on the unmounted filesystem, then reboot.
Why this is correct
Using a live environment ensures the filesystem is unmounted, allowing safe repair.
- ✗
Run 'fsck /dev/sdb1' from the emergency shell after remounting /home read-write.
Why it's wrong here
Running fsck on a mounted filesystem is dangerous and can cause data loss.
- ✗
Run 'fsck -y /dev/sdb1' from the emergency shell, but first run 'mount -o remount,rw /home' to make the filesystem writable.
Why it's wrong here
Mounting a corrupt filesystem read-write can exacerbate the corruption.
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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.