LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
After modifying /etc/fstab, an administrator wants to test if the new mount points can be mounted without rebooting. Which command should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse `systemctl daemon-reload` with a command that applies fstab changes, when in fact it only reloads systemd unit files and has no effect on mount operations defined in /etc/fstab.
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
✓
mount -a
The `mount -a` command reads /etc/fstab and mounts all filesystems listed there that are not already mounted, making it the correct way to test new entries without rebooting. This command respects the mount options and order defined in fstab, allowing the administrator to verify that the new mount points work correctly.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
systemctl daemon-reload
Why it's wrong here
systemctl daemon-reload reloads systemd manager configuration, including regenerated mount units, but does not itself mount the new fstab entries. It is the right step after editing unit files, not for testing fstab mount points; mount -a actually attempts the mounts.
- ✓
mount -a
Why this is correct
`mount -a` reads /etc/fstab and mounts every entry not already mounted, directly satisfying the requirement to validate the modified configuration without rebooting. It parses each filesystem line, so syntax errors or unreachable devices surface immediately, letting the administrator confirm the new mount points work before a restart.
- ✗
mount -o remount
Why it's wrong here
mount -o remount re-applies options to an already-mounted filesystem, such as changing from read-only to read-write; it cannot mount new entries. It is correct when altering options on an existing mount, but testing newly added fstab lines requires mount -a to parse and mount them.
- ✗
mount -t ext4
Why it's wrong here
mount -t ext4 only filters which filesystem type to mount and requires a device and mount point argument; it does not read /etc/fstab entries. It is used when manually mounting a specific device, whereas mount -a parses fstab and mounts every listed entry, testing the edited file.
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