LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
Which THREE of the following directories are part of the FHS and must be present on a standard Linux system? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that /lost+found appears essential because it is commonly seen on ext filesystems, but it is not part of the FHS mandatory list, and /home is often assumed required due to its ubiquity, yet the FHS does not mandate it for a standard Linux system.
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
✓
/var
The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) defines /var (option A) as the directory for variable data such as logs, spool files, and caches, and it is a required top-level directory on a standard Linux system. Option B, /etc, is also mandated by the FHS to hold host-specific system configuration files, making it essential for a functioning system. Option D, /bin, is required by the FHS to contain essential user command binaries needed for single-user mode and system boot. Option C, /lost+found, is not an FHS-mandated directory; it is created by the e2fsck utility on ext2/ext3/ext4 filesystems to hold recovered files and is filesystem-specific rather than a standard FHS requirement. Option E, /home, while commonly present for user home directories, is not strictly required by the FHS and may be absent or mounted from a remote server in some configurations.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
/var
Why this is correct
/var holds variable data such as logs, spools and caches, and the FHS lists it among the directories that must exist on a standard system. Its presence is required even when separate partitions are not used.
- ✓
/etc
Why this is correct
/etc holds host-specific system configuration files, and the FHS mandates its presence on every standard Linux system. Configuration data must remain separate from binaries and variable runtime state, so this directory satisfies the stem's requirement for a mandatory FHS directory.
- ✗
/lost+found
Why it's wrong here
The FHS defines /lost+found as an ext2/3/4 filesystem artefact created by e2fsck for orphaned inodes, not a mandated directory; it is absent on XFS, btrfs and tmpfs systems. It is tempting because it appears on most ext4 installs, but the FHS lists only /, /bin, /boot, /dev, /etc, /home, /lib, /media, /mnt, /opt, /root, /run, /sbin, /srv, /tmp, /usr and /var as required.
- ✓
/bin
Why this is correct
/bin holds essential user command binaries required for single-user mode and system repair, and the FHS mandates it as a required root-level directory on every standard Linux system. This satisfies the stem's constraint that the directory must be present, distinguishing it from optional paths such as /usr/local or /opt.
- ✗
/home
Why it's wrong here
/home is optional under the FHS; it holds user home directories but a system can place them elsewhere or omit them, so it is not required. It tempts because it appears on virtually every desktop distribution, yet the mandatory top-level directories are /bin, /etc, /lib and similar.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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