This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
$ mount tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime)
Refer to the exhibit. An admin attempts to execute a shell script located in /tmp but gets 'Permission denied'. Which mount option is most likely causing this?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
$ mount tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime)
relatime
Why wrong: Controls atime updates, unrelated to execution permissions.
noexec
Prevents execution of any files on the filesystem.
nodev
Why wrong: nodev prevents device files, not execution.
nosuid
Why wrong: nosuid ignores set-user-ID and set-group-ID bits, but does not prevent execution.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
noexec
The 'noexec' mount option prevents execution of any binary or script directly from the filesystem, regardless of file permissions. Since the script is in /tmp and the admin gets 'Permission denied' despite correct execute bits, the /tmp partition is likely mounted with noexec, which is a common security hardening practice.
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.
relatime
Why it's wrong here
Controls atime updates, unrelated to execution permissions.
noexec
Why this is correct
Prevents execution of any files on the filesystem.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
nodev
Why it's wrong here
nodev prevents device files, not execution.
nosuid
Why it's wrong here
nosuid ignores set-user-ID and set-group-ID bits, but does not prevent execution.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates assume 'Permission denied' always means missing execute bits (chmod +x), when in fact the noexec mount option silently blocks execution even with correct permissions.
Detailed technical explanation
The noexec mount option works at the VFS (Virtual File System) layer by returning -EACCES when the kernel's do_execve() or sys_execve() syscall is invoked on a file within that mount. This is independent of file permissions; even a 755 script owned by root will fail. In practice, /tmp is often mounted with noexec on security-conscious systems to prevent users from running arbitrary downloaded scripts, though scripts can still be executed via interpreters like 'bash /tmp/script.sh' since the interpreter itself is not blocked.
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
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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: noexec — The 'noexec' mount option prevents execution of any binary or script directly from the filesystem, regardless of file permissions. Since the script is in /tmp and the admin gets 'Permission denied' despite correct execute bits, the /tmp partition is likely mounted with noexec, which is a common security hardening practice.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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