LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
According to FHS, which directory should NOT be mounted on a networked filesystem (e.g., NFS) because it contains host-specific configuration files?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often think /var or /home are the correct answers because they contain user data or logs, but the FHS specifically singles out /etc as the directory that must remain local due to its host-specific configuration files.
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
✓
/etc
The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) specifies that /etc contains host-specific configuration files that must be local to each machine. Mounting /etc over a network filesystem like NFS would cause all clients to share the same configuration, breaking system identity, network settings, and security policies. This violates the FHS requirement that /etc be a local filesystem.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
/home
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: /home can be shared via NFS for user home directories.
- ✗
/var
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: /var can be shared but is often local; sharing is possible but not best practice for logs.
- ✓
/etc
Why this is correct
Correct: /etc must be local to each host due to unique configuration.
- ✗
/opt
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: /opt can be shared if software is identical across hosts.
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JA
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.