LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You manage a CentOS 7 server that runs a critical application storing data on an XFS filesystem mounted at /data. The server experiences an unexpected power outage. After rebooting, the application fails to start, and you suspect filesystem corruption. You boot into single-user mode and attempt to mount /data, but the mount fails with an error: 'mount: /dev/sdb1: can't read superblock'. You run 'xfs_repair -n /dev/sdb1' and it reports the log is dirty and must be replayed or the filesystem repaired with the -L option (force log zeroing). You want to recover the filesystem with minimal data loss. Which action should you take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Run 'xfs_repair -L /dev/sdb1' to force log replay and repair.
The correct answer is A because xfs_repair -L /dev/sdb1 forces the log to be zeroed (cleared) and then performs a full filesystem check and repair. This is necessary when the log is dirty and cannot be replayed normally due to corruption, such as after an unclean shutdown. The -L option is the standard recovery method for XFS when the log is damaged, and it minimizes data loss by only discarding the log (which contains metadata changes that were not yet written to disk) while preserving the rest of the filesystem data.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Run 'xfs_repair -L /dev/sdb1' to force log replay and repair.
Why this is correct
-L zeros the log and forces a replay, which is necessary when the log is corrupt.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Mount the filesystem with the 'norecovery' option to bypass the log and then attempt to repair.
Why it's wrong here
Mounting with 'norecovery' does not repair the filesystem; it only allows read-only access.
✗
Run 'fsck -y /dev/sdb1' to automatically repair.
Why it's wrong here
fsck is for ext filesystems; for XFS, use xfs_repair.
✗
Run 'xfs_admin -U generate /dev/sdb1' to generate a new UUID and then mount.
Why it's wrong here
xfs_admin changes metadata, but does not repair corruption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates familiar with ext4 may instinctively choose fsck (Option C), not realizing that XFS has its own repair tool (xfs_repair) and that fsck is incompatible with XFS filesystems.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
XFS uses a journal (log) to track metadata changes before they are written to the main filesystem. After an unclean shutdown, the log may contain uncommitted transactions; xfs_repair -L zeroes the log, discarding those transactions, which can lead to metadata inconsistencies but allows the filesystem to be mounted. In a real-world scenario, if the log is corrupted beyond replay, -L is the only option to recover the filesystem, though it may result in lost file data that was in the process of being written at the time of the crash.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Devices, Filesystems and FHS — This question tests Devices, Filesystems and FHS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Run 'xfs_repair -L /dev/sdb1' to force log replay and repair. — The correct answer is A because xfs_repair -L /dev/sdb1 forces the log to be zeroed (cleared) and then performs a full filesystem check and repair. This is necessary when the log is dirty and cannot be replayed normally due to corruption, such as after an unclean shutdown. The -L option is the standard recovery method for XFS when the log is damaged, and it minimizes data loss by only discarding the log (which contains metadata changes that were not yet written to disk) while preserving the rest of the filesystem data.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-1 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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