This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of block devices, filesystems and advanced storage. 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.
A filesystem check on an XFS filesystem reports corruption. What is the recommended way to repair it?
Run xfs_check on the mounted filesystem.
Why wrong: xfs_check is deprecated and also requires unmounted.
Run xfs_repair on the unmounted filesystem.
Why wrong: While possible, best practice is to run xfs_repair -n first to assess damage.
Run xfs_repair -n first, then unmount and repair.
Best practice: run in no modify mode before actual repair.
Run fsck -t xfs on the mounted filesystem.
Why wrong: xfs_repair requires unmounted filesystem.
Answer choices
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 -n first, then unmount and repair.
Option C is correct because the recommended procedure for repairing a corrupted XFS filesystem is to first run `xfs_repair -n` in dry-run mode to assess the damage without making changes, then unmount the filesystem and run `xfs_repair` to perform the actual repair. XFS does not support online repair; the filesystem must be unmounted for write operations to avoid further corruption.
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.
Run xfs_check on the mounted filesystem.
Why it's wrong here
xfs_check is deprecated and also requires unmounted.
Run xfs_repair on the unmounted filesystem.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, best practice is to run xfs_repair -n first to assess damage.
Run xfs_repair -n first, then unmount and repair.
Why this is correct
Best practice: run in no modify mode before actual repair.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Run fsck -t xfs on the mounted filesystem.
Why it's wrong here
xfs_repair requires unmounted filesystem.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may think `xfs_repair` can be run safely on a mounted filesystem (like `fsck` on ext4 with `-f`), or that `xfs_check` is still a valid repair tool, when in fact XFS requires unmounted repair and the dry-run step is a critical safety measure.
Detailed technical explanation
XFS is a journaling filesystem that uses a metadata log (journal) to ensure consistency after crashes, but corruption can still occur from hardware faults or bugs. The `xfs_repair -n` dry-run mode reads the entire filesystem structure and reports errors without modifying anything, allowing administrators to evaluate the damage and plan recovery. In practice, if the corruption is severe, `xfs_repair` may delete inodes or data blocks; the dry-run output helps decide whether to restore from backup instead of risking further data loss.
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-2 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
Block Devices, Filesystems and Advanced Storage — This question tests Block Devices, Filesystems and Advanced Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Run xfs_repair -n first, then unmount and repair. — Option C is correct because the recommended procedure for repairing a corrupted XFS filesystem is to first run `xfs_repair -n` in dry-run mode to assess the damage without making changes, then unmount the filesystem and run `xfs_repair` to perform the actual repair. XFS does not support online repair; the filesystem must be unmounted for write operations to avoid further corruption.
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-2 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-2 exam.
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