Quick Answer
The correct sequence is pvcreate, vgextend, then lvextend. This order is mandatory because LVM requires a disk to be initialized as a physical volume before it can be added to a volume group, and the volume group must contain that new physical volume before its logical volumes can be extended. On the Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 exam, this task tests your understanding of LVM’s layered architecture—physical volumes, volume groups, and logical volumes—and appears frequently in performance-based scenarios where you must extend storage without downtime. A common trap is attempting vgextend before pvcreate, which fails because the disk isn’t recognized as a PV; another is forgetting to run lvextend after adding the disk, leaving the new space unused. To remember the sequence, think of the acronym P-V-L: Physical first, then Volume group, then Logical volume.
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of configure local 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.
A system administrator needs to add a new 10GB disk to an existing volume group 'vgdata' to extend logical volumes. Which of the following is the correct sequence of commands?
pvcreate /dev/sdb, vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb, lvextend
Correct order: pvcreate, vgextend, then lvextend.
vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb, pvcreate /dev/sdb, lvextend
Why wrong: pvcreate must come before vgextend.
pvcreate /dev/sdb, lvextend, vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb
Why wrong: vgextend must precede lvextend.
lvextend, vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb, pvcreate /dev/sdb
Why wrong: pvcreate must be first.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
pvcreate /dev/sdb, vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb, lvextend
Option A is correct because the proper sequence to add a new disk to an existing volume group is: first create a physical volume with `pvcreate /dev/sdb`, then extend the volume group with `vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb`, and finally extend the logical volume with `lvextend`. This order ensures the disk is initialized as a PV before it can be added to the VG, and the VG must have the new PV before the LV can be extended.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
pvcreate /dev/sdb, vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb, lvextend
Why this is correct
Correct order: pvcreate, vgextend, then lvextend.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb, pvcreate /dev/sdb, lvextend
Why it's wrong here
pvcreate must come before vgextend.
pvcreate /dev/sdb, lvextend, vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb
Why it's wrong here
vgextend must precede lvextend.
lvextend, vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb, pvcreate /dev/sdb
Why it's wrong here
pvcreate must be first.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may think `vgextend` can automatically initialize the disk, or that the order of commands does not matter, but LVM strictly requires `pvcreate` before `vgextend` and `vgextend` before `lvextend`.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `pvcreate` writes LVM metadata (including a label at sector 1) to the disk, marking it as a physical volume. `vgextend` updates the volume group descriptor area (VGDA) to include the new PV, and `lvextend` modifies the logical volume's metadata to allocate extents from the VG's free physical extents. In real-world scenarios, failing to run `pvcreate` first results in an error like 'Device /dev/sdb not found (or ignored by filtering)' when attempting `vgextend`.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the EX200 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
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
Configure local storage — This question tests Configure local storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: pvcreate /dev/sdb, vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb, lvextend — Option A is correct because the proper sequence to add a new disk to an existing volume group is: first create a physical volume with `pvcreate /dev/sdb`, then extend the volume group with `vgextend vgdata /dev/sdb`, and finally extend the logical volume with `lvextend`. This order ensures the disk is initialized as a PV before it can be added to the VG, and the VG must have the new PV before the LV can be extended.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
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Variation 1. An administrator needs to create a new logical volume named 'lvdata' of size 5G in vgdata, format it with ext4, and mount it persistently at /mnt/data. The system currently has /dev/sdc as a physical volume in vgdata. Which command sequence accomplishes this?
mediumWhy A: Option A is correct because it assumes the volume group vgdata and physical volume /dev/sdc already exist, so only the lvcreate command is needed to create the logical volume. It then formats the LV with ext4, adds a persistent mount entry to /etc/fstab, and uses mount -a to mount all filesystems from fstab, including the new entry. This sequence efficiently meets all requirements without redundant or incorrect steps.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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