This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Exhibit: Output of `lsblk` NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT sda 8:0 0 50G 0 disk ├─sda1 8:1 0 500M 0 part /boot ├─sda2 8:2 0 49.5G 0 part / ├─sda3 8:3 0 2G 0 part [SWAP] sdb 8:16 0 100G 0 disk └─sdb1 8:17 0 100G 0 part /data
Refer to the exhibit. How many physical disks are present in the system?
Exhibit: Output of `lsblk` NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT sda 8:0 0 50G 0 disk ├─sda1 8:1 0 500M 0 part /boot ├─sda2 8:2 0 49.5G 0 part / ├─sda3 8:3 0 2G 0 part [SWAP] sdb 8:16 0 100G 0 disk └─sdb1 8:17 0 100G 0 part /data
3
Why wrong: Incorrect: Only two disks.
2
Correct: Two disks: sda and sdb.
4
Why wrong: Incorrect: Only two disks.
1
Why wrong: Incorrect: There are two disks visible: sda and sdb.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
2
The output shows two SCSI disks: /dev/sda and /dev/sdb. Each device file represents a physical disk, so there are exactly two physical disks present. The partitions (sda1, sda2, sdb1) are subdivisions of those disks and do not count as separate physical disks.
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.
3
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Only two disks.
2
Why this is correct
Correct: Two disks: sda and sdb.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
4
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Only two disks.
1
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: There are two disks visible: sda and sdb.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often count partition entries (e.g., sda1, sda2, sdb1) as separate physical disks, leading them to overcount the actual number of drives.
Detailed technical explanation
In Linux, SCSI/SATA disks are named /dev/sda, /dev/sdb, etc., in order of detection. Partitions are indicated by a number suffix (e.g., /dev/sda1). The 'lsblk' or 'fdisk -l' commands show disk and partition hierarchy; counting only the top-level device nodes (without numbers) gives the physical disk count. This distinction is critical for storage planning and RAID configuration.
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: 2 — The output shows two SCSI disks: /dev/sda and /dev/sdb. Each device file represents a physical disk, so there are exactly two physical disks present. The partitions (sda1, sda2, sdb1) are subdivisions of those disks and do not count as separate physical disks.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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