LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
An administrator is preparing a new USB drive for use as a portable ext4 data disk. After writing the partition table, the administrator wants to confirm the partition layout and the filesystem type currently on the device before formatting. Which command displays both the partition table and the detected filesystem types for /dev/sdd?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming fdisk -l reports filesystem types, when it only reports partition table entries and partition type codes.
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
✓
lsblk -f /dev/sdd
Verifying a device before formatting requires both the partition layout and any existing filesystem signatures. lsblk with the -f option merges block device topology from sysfs with filesystem metadata detected by libblkid, showing each partition's type, label, UUID, and mount point in a single tree view, which covers both needs at once.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
lsblk -f /dev/sdd
Why this is correct
lsblk reads from sysfs and udev to present block device topology. The -f option adds filesystem information including type, label, UUID, and mount point for each partition. Combined with the device argument, it shows the partition layout and detected filesystem types in one view, satisfying both requirements.
- ✗
partprobe /dev/sdd
Why it's wrong here
partprobe asks the kernel to re-read the partition table so new partitions become visible without a reboot. It produces no detailed listing of partitions or filesystems, so it cannot serve as a verification command in this scenario. It is an action tool, not a reporting tool.
- ✗
fdisk -l /dev/sdd
Why it's wrong here
fdisk -l prints the partition table, including start and end sectors and partition types, but it does not detect or report the filesystem type present inside each partition. It would confirm the layout only, leaving the filesystem question unanswered.
- ✗
blkid /dev/sdd
Why it's wrong here
blkid probes a device for filesystem signatures and prints UUIDs, labels, and types, but it does not display the partition table or the list of partitions. Running it against the whole disk often returns nothing useful, so it cannot confirm the partition layout as required.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official LPI exam blueprint
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.