Question 143 of 511

Block Devices, Filesystems and Advanced Storage →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

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. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.

Exhibit

cat /etc/multipath.conf
defaults {
    user_friendly_names yes
    find_multipaths yes
}
blacklist {
    devnode "^sd[a-z]"
}
multipath -ll
mpathb (36005076303ffc300000000000000374) dm-2 HP,MB3000FCAPA
size=1.0T features='0' hwhandler='0' wp=rw
`-+- policy='round-robin 0' prio=0 status=active
  |- 1:0:0:0 sdb 8:16 active ready running

An administrator observes that only one path is shown as active for mpathb. 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.

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

Exhibit

cat /etc/multipath.conf
defaults {
    user_friendly_names yes
    find_multipaths yes
}
blacklist {
    devnode "^sd[a-z]"
}
multipath -ll
mpathb (36005076303ffc300000000000000374) dm-2 HP,MB3000FCAPA
size=1.0T features='0' hwhandler='0' wp=rw
`-+- policy='round-robin 0' prio=0 status=active
  |- 1:0:0:0 sdb 8:16 active ready running

A
The find_multipaths setting is incorrect.
Why wrong: find_multipaths is enabled, which is fine.
B
The SCSI devices are not properly connected.
Why wrong: One path appears, so connection is likely fine.
C
The multipathd service is not running.
Why wrong: If multipathd not running, no multipath device would appear.
D
The blacklist rule excludes the other path.
All sd devices are blacklisted, so only one path (maybe not blacklisted due to something else) appears.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 blacklist rule excludes the other path.

When only one path is active for a multipath device (mpathb), the most likely cause is that the other path is being excluded by a blacklist rule in the multipath configuration. The blacklist can filter out devices based on WWID, device name, or vendor/product, preventing them from being aggregated into the multipath map. This results in the path being visible to the system but not used by multipathd.

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 find_multipaths setting is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
find_multipaths is enabled, which is fine.
✗
The SCSI devices are not properly connected.
Why it's wrong here
One path appears, so connection is likely fine.
✗
The multipathd service is not running.
Why it's wrong here
If multipathd not running, no multipath device would appear.
✓
The blacklist rule excludes the other path.
Why this is correct
All sd devices are blacklisted, so only one path (maybe not blacklisted due to something else) appears.
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.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often assume a missing path is due to hardware or service issues, but LPIC-2 tests the understanding that multipath configuration files (especially blacklist rules) are a common cause of path exclusion, even when all physical connections are intact.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Multipath I/O relies on the device mapper to combine multiple SCSI paths into a single logical device. The blacklist feature in /etc/multipath.conf can exclude paths by WWID (e.g., using the 'wwid' keyword) or by device node (e.g., /dev/sdb), which is often used to prevent local disks from being included. A common real-world scenario is when a storage array presents LUNs with identical WWIDs but different target ports, and an overly broad blacklist rule inadvertently excludes one path.

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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this LPIC-2 question test?

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 blacklist rule excludes the other path. — When only one path is active for a multipath device (mpathb), the most likely cause is that the other path is being excluded by a blacklist rule in the multipath configuration. The blacklist can filter out devices based on WWID, device name, or vendor/product, preventing them from being aggregated into the multipath map. This results in the path being visible to the system but not used by multipathd.

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.

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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026

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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.