LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An administrator runs `fsck /dev/sdb1` on an ext4 filesystem that is currently mounted. What is the likely outcome?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
It will refuse and exit with a warning
Running fsck on a mounted ext4 filesystem is unsafe because the kernel may have cached metadata that differs from the on-disk state, leading to false corruption detection or actual data loss. The fsck tool detects the mounted state via /proc/mounts or the kernel's internal mount table and refuses to run, printing a warning and exiting with a non-zero exit code (typically 8). This is a deliberate safety mechanism to prevent filesystem corruption.
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.
✗
It will succeed and repair any errors
Why it's wrong here
It will not proceed at all due to mounted state.
✗
It will automatically remount the filesystem read-only and check
Why it's wrong here
fsck does not automatically remount; it expects the admin to unmount first.
✓
It will refuse and exit with a warning
Why this is correct
fsck detects the filesystem is mounted and aborts to prevent damage.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
It will safely perform a read-only check
Why it's wrong here
Despite being read-only, fsck on a mounted filesystem can still cause inconsistency; it still refuses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume fsck can safely perform a read-only check on a mounted filesystem, but the LPIC-1 exam tests the specific rule that fsck refuses to run on any mounted filesystem (except with special options like -f for root in single-user mode) to prevent data corruption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The fsck tool checks the /proc/mounts file to determine if the target device is mounted; for ext4, it also uses the kernel's internal mount state via the ext2fs library. The 'force' flag (-f) does not override the mounted check; only the '-M' option (not mounted) or unmounting the filesystem first allows fsck to proceed. In a real-world scenario, an administrator might accidentally run fsck on a mounted filesystem during a maintenance window, and the tool's refusal prevents a catastrophic corruption that would require a full restore from backup.
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: It will refuse and exit with a warning — Running fsck on a mounted ext4 filesystem is unsafe because the kernel may have cached metadata that differs from the on-disk state, leading to false corruption detection or actual data loss. The fsck tool detects the mounted state via /proc/mounts or the kernel's internal mount table and refuses to run, printing a warning and exiting with a non-zero exit code (typically 8). This is a deliberate safety mechanism to prevent filesystem corruption.
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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