LPIC-2 Linux Kernel and System Startup Practice Question
A systems administrator is troubleshooting a server that fails to boot after a kernel upgrade. The boot process hangs at the stage where the kernel attempts to mount the root filesystem. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse a missing initrd (which causes a different error earlier in boot) with a root filesystem mount failure, or they assume an unsupported filesystem type is the issue, but the kernel's behavior at the mount stage specifically points to a missing or misconfigured root device parameter.
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
✓
The root= parameter in the kernel command line points to a non-existent device.
When the kernel fails to mount the root filesystem during boot, the most common cause is an incorrect or missing `root=` parameter in the kernel command line. This parameter specifies the device (e.g., `/dev/sda1` or `UUID=...`) that the kernel should mount as the root filesystem; if it points to a non-existent device, the kernel cannot proceed past the mount stage, resulting in a hang or kernel panic.
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 root= parameter in the kernel command line points to a non-existent device.
Why this is correct
A missing root device causes the kernel to hang while waiting for the device to appear.
- ✗
The root filesystem is formatted with an unsupported filesystem type.
Why it's wrong here
This would typically produce an error message, not a hang.
- ✗
The initrd image is missing from the /boot partition.
Why it's wrong here
An initrd is not always required; the kernel can mount root directly.
- ✗
The GRUB bootloader is not installed on the MBR.
Why it's wrong here
This would prevent the bootloader from loading entirely, not cause a hang at root mount.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.