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.
Why wrong: Resizing would require free space on the same disk, but sda has no unallocated space shown; and resizing does not free space, it changes partition size.
B
Move /var/log to /mnt/backup and create a symlink
/var/log is on the root filesystem; moving it to /mnt/backup frees space on /, and the symlink allows continued access.
C
Delete all files in /var/log
Why wrong: Deleting logs may free space but is not a best practice; also, logs may be in use and deleting them could cause issues. Moving is safer.
D
Move /home to /mnt/backup and create a symlink
Why wrong: /home is a separate partition, so moving it does not free space on /.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Move /var/log to /mnt/backup and create a symlink
Option B is correct because moving the /var/log directory to a separate partition or filesystem (e.g., /mnt/backup) and creating a symbolic link from /var/log to the new location frees space on the root filesystem without losing log data. This approach preserves the filesystem hierarchy and allows logs to continue growing on a different volume, preventing the root filesystem from filling up.
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.
✗
Resize /dev/sda1 using resize2fs
Why it's wrong here
Resizing would require free space on the same disk, but sda has no unallocated space shown; and resizing does not free space, it changes partition size.
✓
Move /var/log to /mnt/backup and create a symlink
Why this is correct
/var/log is on the root filesystem; moving it to /mnt/backup frees space on /, and the symlink allows continued access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Delete all files in /var/log
Why it's wrong here
Deleting logs may free space but is not a best practice; also, logs may be in use and deleting them could cause issues. Moving is safer.
✗
Move /home to /mnt/backup and create a symlink
Why it's wrong here
/home is a separate partition, so moving it does not free space on /.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think deleting log files (Option C) is acceptable, but the exam tests understanding of non-destructive methods that preserve data and system functionality, while also recognizing that /var/log is the most common directory to fill the root filesystem.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Resizing would require free space on the same disk, but sda has no unallocated space shown; and resizing does not free space, it changes partition size.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the root filesystem (/) contains /var/log by default, and log files can grow rapidly, especially with verbose system services or applications. Moving /var/log to a separate partition or mount point and using a symbolic link is a standard technique to isolate log growth from the root filesystem, ensuring that the root filesystem does not become full and cause system instability. In real-world scenarios, this is often combined with log rotation (logrotate) and monitoring to prevent future issues.
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: Move /var/log to /mnt/backup and create a symlink — Option B is correct because moving the /var/log directory to a separate partition or filesystem (e.g., /mnt/backup) and creating a symbolic link from /var/log to the new location frees space on the root filesystem without losing log data. This approach preserves the filesystem hierarchy and allows logs to continue growing on a different volume, preventing the root filesystem from filling up.
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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