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 reports 'No space left on device' but 'df -h' shows only 60% usage. Which command would help identify the cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
stat /
Why wrong: stat shows filesystem info but not open deleted files.
lsof +L1
lsof +L1 lists files with link count 0 but still open; these occupy space.
du -sh /
Why wrong: du reports file sizes but may not account for unlinked files.
df -i
Why wrong: df -i shows inode usage, not block usage.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
lsof +L1
The 'No space left on device' error can occur even when 'df -h' shows available space if the filesystem has exhausted its inodes (metadata structures that store file information). However, the question states 'df -h' shows only 60% usage, implying space is not the issue, but inodes could be. The command 'lsof +L1' lists all open files with a link count of zero (i.e., deleted but still held open by a process), which consume inodes and can fill the filesystem's inode table without using disk space. This is the most direct way to identify processes holding deleted files that prevent inode reuse.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
stat /
Why it's wrong here
stat shows filesystem info but not open deleted files.
lsof +L1
Why this is correct
lsof +L1 lists files with link count 0 but still open; these occupy space.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
du -sh /
Why it's wrong here
du reports file sizes but may not account for unlinked files.
df -i
Why it's wrong here
df -i shows inode usage, not block usage.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates assume 'No space left on device' always means disk space is full, but LPIC-1 tests the distinction between disk space exhaustion and inode exhaustion, where 'df -i' shows inode usage and 'lsof +L1' identifies the specific processes holding deleted files.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
stat shows filesystem info but not open deleted files.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, each file on a Linux filesystem consumes an inode, which stores metadata like permissions, ownership, and timestamps. When a file is deleted while still open by a process, its inode remains allocated until the file descriptor is closed, effectively consuming an inode without visible disk space. The 'lsof +L1' command leverages the kernel's VFS layer to list file descriptors with a link count of zero, which is a common cause of 'No space left on device' errors in production environments (e.g., log files truncated but still held by a daemon).
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Devices, Filesystems and FHS — This question tests Devices, Filesystems and FHS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: lsof +L1 — The 'No space left on device' error can occur even when 'df -h' shows available space if the filesystem has exhausted its inodes (metadata structures that store file information). However, the question states 'df -h' shows only 60% usage, implying space is not the issue, but inodes could be. The command 'lsof +L1' lists all open files with a link count of zero (i.e., deleted but still held open by a process), which consume inodes and can fill the filesystem's inode table without using disk space. This is the most direct way to identify processes holding deleted files that prevent inode reuse.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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