LPIC-2 Practice Question: Block Devices, Filesystems and Advanced Storage
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of block devices, filesystems and advanced storage. 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.
A system administrator notices that a new iSCSI target is not appearing as a block device after running iscsiadm. The target is known to be online and reachable. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Why wrong: Initiator name is required but usually set; missing it would prevent login, but the question states the target is reachable, so iscsid is more likely.
B
The target IQN is not specified correctly.
Why wrong: Incorrect IQN would fail, but the administrator likely specified it correctly.
C
The iSCSI service (iscsid) is not running.
The iscsid daemon must be active to manage sessions.
D
The network interface is down.
Why wrong: The target is reachable, so network is fine.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The iSCSI service (iscsid) is not running.
The iSCSI initiator requires the `iscsid` daemon to be running in order to process discovery and login requests from `iscsiadm`. Even if the target is online and reachable, without the `iscsid` service, the kernel's iSCSI layer cannot establish a session or create the corresponding block device (e.g., /dev/sdX). This is the most likely cause because the administrator has confirmed network connectivity and target availability, leaving the service state as the primary suspect.
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.
✗
The iSCSI initiator name is not set.
Why it's wrong here
Initiator name is required but usually set; missing it would prevent login, but the question states the target is reachable, so iscsid is more likely.
✗
The target IQN is not specified correctly.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect IQN would fail, but the administrator likely specified it correctly.
✓
The iSCSI service (iscsid) is not running.
Why this is correct
The iscsid daemon must be active to manage sessions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The network interface is down.
Why it's wrong here
The target is reachable, so network is fine.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the issue is a configuration error (like a wrong IQN or missing initiator name) when the problem is actually a missing or stopped service, because they overlook the dependency of `iscsiadm` on the `iscsid` daemon.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `iscsiadm` communicates with the `iscsid` daemon via a Unix socket (usually /var/run/iscsid.socket). The daemon handles the iSCSI login sequence, including CHAP authentication and session establishment, then creates the SCSI devices via the kernel's scsi_mod. A common real-world scenario is that `iscsid` may crash or be stopped after a reboot, leaving `iscsiadm` commands to hang or silently fail, which is why checking `systemctl status iscsid` is a standard first step in troubleshooting.
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-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
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.
Block Devices, Filesystems and Advanced Storage — This question tests Block Devices, Filesystems and Advanced Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The iSCSI service (iscsid) is not running. — The iSCSI initiator requires the `iscsid` daemon to be running in order to process discovery and login requests from `iscsiadm`. Even if the target is online and reachable, without the `iscsid` service, the kernel's iSCSI layer cannot establish a session or create the corresponding block device (e.g., /dev/sdX). This is the most likely cause because the administrator has confirmed network connectivity and target availability, leaving the service state as the primary suspect.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-2 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.