LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
Exhibit
# /etc/fstab UUID=abc123 / ext4 defaults 0 1 UUID=def456 /home ext4 defaults 0 2 UUID=ghi789 /var/log ext4 defaults 0 2 # /etc/fstab entry for swap UUID=jkl012 none swap sw 0 0 # Backup fstab entry for /data /dev/sdc1 /data ext4 defaults 0 2
Refer to the exhibit. The system administrator wants to ensure the /data filesystem is mounted only if it is available at boot time, and if not, the system should continue to boot without error. Which change should be made to the /etc/fstab entry for /data?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse 'noauto' (which prevents mounting at boot) with 'nofail' (which allows boot to continue if mount fails), or they overlook the need to set the fs_passno field to 0 to avoid fsck errors on a missing device.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add the 'nofail' option and set the last field to 0
The 'nofail' mount option tells systemd that if the filesystem fails to mount at boot, the boot process should continue without error. Setting the last field (fs_passno) to 0 disables filesystem checks, which is appropriate for a non-critical filesystem that may not be present. This combination ensures the system boots normally even if /data is unavailable.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Change the mount point to /mnt/data
Why it's wrong here
Changing the mount point does not affect boot behavior.
- ✗
Change the filesystem type to auto
Why it's wrong here
Setting filesystem type to 'auto' does not handle missing device; it will still halt if not found.
- ✗
Add the 'noauto' option
Why it's wrong here
'noauto' prevents automatic mounting at boot, but the administrator wants it mounted if available, not skipped entirely.
- ✓
Add the 'nofail' option and set the last field to 0
Why this is correct
'nofail' allows boot to continue if the device is missing, and setting the pass number to 0 prevents fsck errors.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.