LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
Which TWO commands can be used to display the UUID of a filesystem? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse `mount` (which shows current mounts) with `blkid` or `lsblk` for UUID display, or think `/etc/fstab` is a command rather than a configuration file.
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
✓
lsblk -f
Option C, lsblk -f, is correct because the -f (--fs) flag makes lsblk print filesystem information for each block device, including the filesystem type, label, mountpoint, and the UUID column, so it directly displays the UUID of a filesystem. Option E, blkid, is correct because blkid probes block devices and prints their attributes, including UUID and TYPE, by default showing the UUID for each device with a filesystem. Option A, df -h, only reports filesystem disk usage in human-readable sizes and does not show UUIDs. Option B, mount, lists mounted filesystems and their mount options but does not display filesystem UUIDs. Option D, cat /etc/fstab, shows configured mount entries, which may contain UUID= identifiers if the admin wrote them that way, but it does not query or display the actual UUID of a filesystem.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
df -h
Why it's wrong here
df reports disk space usage per mounted filesystem and shows device names, not UUIDs. It is tempting because it enumerates filesystems, and it would be the right tool if the question asked for free space or mount points rather than filesystem identifiers.
- ✗
mount
Why it's wrong here
mount lists mounted filesystems and their mount points, but prints UUIDs only when a device is already mounted and only with specific options; it does not query a filesystem's UUID directly. It is tempting because mount output can include UUID entries, and it would suit verifying what is currently mounted.
- ✓
lsblk -f
Why this is correct
`lsblk -f` lists block devices with their filesystem type, label, mountpoint and UUID, reading the superblock metadata directly. It satisfies the stem's requirement to display a filesystem UUID without needing the device mounted, unlike `blkid` alternatives that may require root or a populated cache.
- ✗
cat /etc/fstab
Why it's wrong here
/etc/fstab is a static configuration file listing filesystems to mount at boot; it may contain UUIDs but reflects configured entries, not the actual UUID of an arbitrary filesystem. It is tempting because UUID= lines appear there, and it would be correct for checking which filesystems mount automatically.
- ✓
blkid
Why this is correct
`blkid` queries block devices directly and prints their attributes, including the filesystem UUID, satisfying the requirement to display a filesystem's UUID. It reads the superblock metadata of each device, so it reports UUIDs without needing the filesystem mounted or listed in `/etc/fstab`, unlike `lsblk -f` defaults.
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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.