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 system administrator is troubleshooting a server where the /var partition is full, causing services to fail. The administrator deletes old log files in /var/log, but the available space does not increase. Which step should be taken next?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use 'lsof /var/log' to find processes holding deleted file handles, then restart those processes.
When a file is deleted while a process still holds an open file descriptor to it, the file's data blocks are not freed until that process releases the handle. The `lsof /var/log` command identifies such processes, and restarting them forces the kernel to release the deleted inodes, thereby reclaiming the disk space. This is why option C is the correct next step.
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.
✗
Run 'sync; echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches' to clear cache.
Why it's wrong here
Clearing cache frees memory, not disk space.
✗
Remount the /var partition with the 'noatime' option.
Why it's wrong here
noatime reduces metadata updates but does not free space.
✓
Use 'lsof /var/log' to find processes holding deleted file handles, then restart those processes.
Why this is correct
Deleted files remain until all file handles are closed; lsof identifies the processes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Run 'df -i' to check inode usage.
Why it's wrong here
Inode exhaustion is a different issue; space is still consumed by open file handles.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume deleting files immediately frees space, but they overlook that processes can keep deleted files open, and they confuse memory caches (cleared by drop_caches) with disk space.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under Linux, when a file is unlinked (deleted) but still open, the kernel keeps the inode and data blocks allocated until the last file descriptor is closed. This is a common scenario with log files held open by daemons like syslog or Apache. The `lsof` command lists open file descriptors, and the `+L1` option can specifically show files with a link count of zero (deleted but still open). Restarting the process triggers a close of all file descriptors, allowing the kernel to free the blocks.
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 practitioner preparing for the LPIC-1 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
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: Use 'lsof /var/log' to find processes holding deleted file handles, then restart those processes. — When a file is deleted while a process still holds an open file descriptor to it, the file's data blocks are not freed until that process releases the handle. The `lsof /var/log` command identifies such processes, and restarting them forces the kernel to release the deleted inodes, thereby reclaiming the disk space. This is why option C is the correct next step.
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.
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Question Discussion
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