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 TWO utilities can be used to check and repair an XFS filesystem?
e2fsck
Why wrong: e2fsck is for ext2/ext3/ext4 filesystems, not XFS.
fsck
Why wrong: fsck can invoke XFS tools if configured, but it itself is not a dedicated XFS tool.
xfs_repair
xfs_repair is the primary tool for checking and repairing XFS filesystems.
xfs_check
xfs_check is an older utility that performs consistency checks (deprecated but still available).
btrfs check
Why wrong: btrfs check is for Btrfs filesystems.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
xfs_repair
C is correct because `xfs_repair` is the primary utility for checking and repairing XFS filesystems, designed to handle metadata corruption and ensure consistency. It is the recommended tool for XFS, similar to how `fsck` works for other filesystems but with XFS-specific optimizations.
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.
e2fsck
Why it's wrong here
e2fsck is for ext2/ext3/ext4 filesystems, not XFS.
fsck
Why it's wrong here
fsck can invoke XFS tools if configured, but it itself is not a dedicated XFS tool.
xfs_repair
Why this is correct
xfs_repair is the primary tool for checking and repairing XFS filesystems.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
xfs_check
Why this is correct
xfs_check is an older utility that performs consistency checks (deprecated but still available).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
btrfs check
Why it's wrong here
btrfs check is for Btrfs filesystems.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse `xfs_check` as a repair tool when it is actually read-only, or mistakenly think `fsck` is a direct XFS repair utility rather than a wrapper that delegates to `xfs_repair`.
Detailed technical explanation
XFS uses a journaling mechanism to maintain metadata integrity, and `xfs_repair` works by replaying the journal and then performing a full metadata scan to fix inconsistencies. In contrast, `xfs_check` is an older, read-only consistency checker that does not perform repairs, making it useful for diagnostics but not for fixing issues. A real-world scenario is recovering an XFS filesystem after an unclean shutdown, where `xfs_repair` is essential to replay the journal and repair any corruption.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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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: xfs_repair — C is correct because `xfs_repair` is the primary utility for checking and repairing XFS filesystems, designed to handle metadata corruption and ensure consistency. It is the recommended tool for XFS, similar to how `fsck` works for other filesystems but with XFS-specific optimizations.
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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