EX200 Create and configure file systems Practice Question
A partition /dev/sdc1 is formatted as ext4. The administrator needs to check the file system for errors without making any repairs. Which command should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Red Hat often tests the distinction between checking and repairing file systems, and the trap here is that candidates may confuse `-n` (no repair) with `-y` (auto-repair) or assume `xfs_repair -n` works on ext4, not recognizing that file system-specific tools must match the file system type.
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
✓
fsck -n /dev/sdc1
The `fsck -n` command checks the file system for errors without making any repairs, as the `-n` flag forces a non-interactive, read-only check. Since /dev/sdc1 is formatted as ext4, `fsck` automatically calls the appropriate ext4-specific tool (e2fsck) with the no-repair option. This matches the requirement to only check for errors without fixing them.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
xfs_repair -n /dev/sdc1
Why it's wrong here
xfs_repair is a utility built exclusively for XFS filesystems, so it cannot parse or interact with the ext4 structures on /dev/sdc1. Even though -n disables write operations, the tool would fail to recognize the filesystem or produce meaningless errors because it expects XFS metadata. It is the wrong command regardless of flags; the admin must use an ext4-compatible checker.
- ✓
fsck -n /dev/sdc1
Why this is correct
fsck is the generic filesystem check front-end that probes the filesystem type on /dev/sdc1 and invokes the appropriate underlying tool, such as e2fsck for ext4. The -n option forces it to answer 'no' to every repair prompt, making the run strictly read-only and non-destructive. This lets the administrator see errors without changing anything, exactly what a dry-run check needs.
- ✗
fsck -y /dev/sdc1
Why it's wrong here
While fsck -y also uses the right front-end, its -y flag automatically answers 'yes' to every question, causing it to actively repair any detected errors. This alters the filesystem and defeats the purpose of a read-only audit. An administrator who only wants to inspect a partition for errors should never use -y unless they intend to modify data.
- ✗
e2fsck -p /dev/sdc1
Why it's wrong here
e2fsck is the ext-specific checker that fsck would call for /dev/sdc1, but -p (preen) places it in automatic repair mode. In preen mode, e2fsck fixes all issues it deems safe without prompting, which changes the filesystem during the operation. Since the requested task is an error check without modifications, -p is too aggressive for a dry-run.
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