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. 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.
Which three conditions must be met for a filesystem to be mounted by UUID in /etc/fstab? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The UUID must be present in /dev/disk/by-uuid/
Option C is correct because the Linux kernel and udev create symbolic links in /dev/disk/by-uuid/ for each block device that has a UUID. When /etc/fstab specifies a filesystem by UUID, the mount command resolves the UUID by looking up the corresponding symlink in this directory. If the symlink is missing (e.g., due to a missing udev rule or a corrupted device), the mount will fail.
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 blkid command must have been run at least once
Why it's wrong here
blkid uses udev data; it does not need to be run manually.
✗
The UUID must be listed in the kernel's boot parameters
Why it's wrong here
Kernel boot parameters are only needed for the root filesystem, not for general mounts.
✓
The UUID must be present in /dev/disk/by-uuid/
Why this is correct
The kernel uses this symlink to resolve the UUID to a device.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The filesystem must be formatted with a utility that writes UUIDs
Why this is correct
Utilities like mkfs.ext4 write a UUID during formatting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The UUID in fstab must match the filesystem's UUID
Why this is correct
A mismatch will cause mount failure.
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 think blkid must be run first to 'register' the UUID, but in reality, udev and the kernel automatically populate /dev/disk/by-uuid/ at boot or when a device is added.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, udev creates the /dev/disk/by-uuid/ symlinks by reading the filesystem's UUID from the superblock (e.g., ext4 stores it in the superblock at offset 0x468). The mount command uses the libblkid library to resolve the UUID to a device node. A real-world scenario: if you clone a disk with dd, the cloned partition will have the same UUID, causing a conflict in /dev/disk/by-uuid/ and potentially preventing the correct filesystem from being mounted.
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 UUID must be present in /dev/disk/by-uuid/ — Option C is correct because the Linux kernel and udev create symbolic links in /dev/disk/by-uuid/ for each block device that has a UUID. When /etc/fstab specifies a filesystem by UUID, the mount command resolves the UUID by looking up the corresponding symlink in this directory. If the symlink is missing (e.g., due to a missing udev rule or a corrupted device), the mount will fail.
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.
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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