- A
setfacl -m u:bob:rwx /home/bob
Why wrong: While this could work, it is not the standard fix; changing ownership is preferred.
- B
usermod -d /home/bob bob
Why wrong: This updates the home directory path in /etc/passwd, not ownership.
- C
chmod 755 /home/bob
Why wrong: This does not change ownership; bob still cannot write as owner is root.
- D
chown bob:bob /home/bob
Changes owner and group to bob, giving him write access.
Question 276 of 537
Correcting Home Directory Ownership with chown
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. 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 helpdesk ticket states that user 'bob' cannot write to his own home directory. The directory /home/bob has permissions drwxr-xr-x and is owned by root:root. What command will fix this?
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
✓
chown bob:bob /home/bob
The home directory /home/bob is owned by root:root with permissions drwxr-xr-x, meaning only root can write to it. User 'bob' cannot write because he is not the owner. Option D (chown bob:bob /home/bob) changes the owner and group to bob, granting him write access via the owner 'w' permission.
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.
- ✗
setfacl -m u:bob:rwx /home/bob
Why it's wrong here
While this could work, it is not the standard fix; changing ownership is preferred.
- ✗
usermod -d /home/bob bob
Why it's wrong here
This updates the home directory path in /etc/passwd, not ownership.
- ✗
chmod 755 /home/bob
Why it's wrong here
This does not change ownership; bob still cannot write as owner is root.
- ✓
chown bob:bob /home/bob
Why this is correct
Changes owner and group to bob, giving him write access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat exams often test the distinction between permission bits and ownership; candidates may mistakenly think changing permissions (chmod) will fix a write issue when the real problem is that the user is not the owner.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'w' permission on a directory allows creating, deleting, and renaming files within it. Ownership determines which user's UID is checked against the file's owner field; here, root owns the directory, so bob's UID does not match, and the 'other' permission (r-x) applies, denying write. Changing ownership with chown updates the inode's uid/gid fields, immediately granting bob write access without altering permissions.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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.
- →
Manage users and groups — study guide chapter
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Manage users and groups practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Manage users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: chown bob:bob /home/bob — The home directory /home/bob is owned by root:root with permissions drwxr-xr-x, meaning only root can write to it. User 'bob' cannot write because he is not the owner. Option D (chown bob:bob /home/bob) changes the owner and group to bob, granting him write access via the owner 'w' permission.
What should I do if I get this EX200 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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