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.
Which THREE directories under the root filesystem are typically used for variable data that changes frequently during system operation, according to FHS?
/usr
Why wrong: /usr is for static shareable data, not frequently changing.
/var
/var is for variable data such as logs, mail spools, etc.
/run
/run contains runtime variable data like PID files and sockets.
/tmp
/tmp is for temporary files that are created and deleted frequently.
/opt
Why wrong: /opt is for add-on software, typically static.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
/var
The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) designates /var for variable data that changes in size and content during normal system operation, such as logs (/var/log), spool files (/var/spool), and databases (/var/lib). /run holds runtime variable data describing the system since boot, while /tmp is for temporary files that may be deleted on reboot. Together, these three directories are the standard locations for frequently changing data under the root filesystem.
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.
/usr
Why it's wrong here
/usr is for static shareable data, not frequently changing.
/var
Why this is correct
/var is for variable data such as logs, mail spools, etc.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/run
Why this is correct
/run contains runtime variable data like PID files and sockets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/tmp
Why this is correct
/tmp is for temporary files that are created and deleted frequently.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/opt
Why it's wrong here
/opt is for add-on software, typically static.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse /usr with /var because /usr contains some subdirectories like /usr/local/var in older systems, but the FHS explicitly separates read-only /usr from writable /var, and /usr is not intended for frequently changing data.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the FHS, /var/log/syslog and /var/spool/mail are classic examples of frequently written data; /run (often a tmpfs) stores PID files and Unix sockets that must persist only during a boot session, while /tmp is also often a tmpfs but may be cleared on reboot. In practice, systemd mounts /run as a tmpfs with a default size of 10-20% of physical RAM, and /tmp can be configured as tmpfs or a persistent directory, affecting behavior across reboots. Understanding these distinctions is critical for disk space planning and system administration tasks like log rotation.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: /var — The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) designates /var for variable data that changes in size and content during normal system operation, such as logs (/var/log), spool files (/var/spool), and databases (/var/lib). /run holds runtime variable data describing the system since boot, while /tmp is for temporary files that may be deleted on reboot. Together, these three directories are the standard locations for frequently changing data under the root filesystem.
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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