This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of administrative tasks. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. $ cat /etc/fstab /dev/sda1 / ext4 defaults 1 1 /dev/sda2 /home ext4 defaults 1 2 /dev/sda3 swap swap defaults 0 0
Refer to the exhibit. During the next boot, which filesystem will be checked first by fsck?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Refer to the exhibit. $ cat /etc/fstab /dev/sda1 / ext4 defaults 1 1 /dev/sda2 /home ext4 defaults 1 2 /dev/sda3 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/sda1
It has fsck order 1.
All checked in parallel
Why wrong: They are checked sequentially according to the order field.
/dev/sda2
Why wrong: Order 2, checked after root.
/dev/sda3
Why wrong: Order 0 means no fsck.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
/dev/sda1
The order in which fsck checks filesystems during boot is determined by the pass number (field 6) in /etc/fstab. The filesystem with the lowest pass number is checked first. In the exhibit, /dev/sda1 has a pass number of 1, while /dev/sda2 and /dev/sda3 have pass numbers of 2, so /dev/sda1 will be checked first.
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.
/dev/sda1
Why this is correct
It has fsck order 1.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
All checked in parallel
Why it's wrong here
They are checked sequentially according to the order field.
/dev/sda2
Why it's wrong here
Order 2, checked after root.
/dev/sda3
Why it's wrong here
Order 0 means no fsck.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume all filesystems are checked in parallel or that the order is based on device naming (e.g., sda1 before sda2), rather than understanding that the explicit pass number in /etc/fstab dictates the sequence.
Detailed technical explanation
The fsck order is controlled by the sixth field in /etc/fstab, known as the 'fs_passno'. A value of 0 means the filesystem will not be checked at all. The root filesystem typically has a passno of 1, and all other filesystems that need checking have a passno of 2. When multiple filesystems share the same passno, fsck can check them in parallel only if they reside on different physical disks (to avoid I/O contention); otherwise, they are checked sequentially. This behavior is defined in the fsck(8) man page and is critical for ensuring system integrity without unnecessary delays.
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Administrative Tasks — This question tests Administrative Tasks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: /dev/sda1 — The order in which fsck checks filesystems during boot is determined by the pass number (field 6) in /etc/fstab. The filesystem with the lowest pass number is checked first. In the exhibit, /dev/sda1 has a pass number of 1, while /dev/sda2 and /dev/sda3 have pass numbers of 2, so /dev/sda1 will be checked first.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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