LPIC-2 Practice Question: Block Devices, Filesystems and Advanced Storage
Which THREE of the following are correct about RAID 1 in mdadm? (Select THREE)
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse RAID 1 with RAID 0 or RAID 5, assuming striping or mandatory bitmaps are part of RAID 1, when in fact mirroring and hot spare support are the key characteristics tested.
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
✓
It can have a hot spare.
RAID 1 in mdadm provides mirroring, where data is written identically to two or more disks. A hot spare is supported: if a disk fails, mdadm automatically rebuilds the mirror onto the spare. This requires at least 2 disks to form the mirror.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It provides striping.
Why it's wrong here
Striping is RAID 0.
- ✓
It can have a hot spare.
Why this is correct
Hot spare can be configured.
- ✓
It requires at least 2 disks.
Why this is correct
Minimum of 2 disks for mirroring.
- ✓
It provides mirroring.
Why this is correct
RAID 1 is mirroring.
- ✗
It uses a bitmap for resync.
Why it's wrong here
Bitmap is optional, not a defining feature.
Quick reference
RAID Level Comparison
| RAID Level | Min Disks | Fault Tolerance | Read | Write | Usable Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 | 2 | None | Excellent | Excellent | 100% |
| RAID 1 | 2 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 50% |
| RAID 5 | 3 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 67–94% |
| RAID 6 | 4 | 2 disks | Good | Lower | 50–88% |
| RAID 10 | 4 | 1 disk per mirror | Excellent | Good | 50% |
RAID is not a backup strategy — it protects against disk failure but not against accidental deletion, ransomware, or site-level events.
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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.