EX200 Configure local storage Practice Question
After creating a new partition on /dev/sdc, the administrator runs 'partprobe' to inform the kernel of the change. What is the primary purpose of partprobe?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse `partprobe` with `partx` or `mkfs`, mistakenly thinking it formats or repairs partitions, when its sole purpose is to synchronize the kernel's partition table with the disk's actual partition layout.
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
✓
To make the kernel re-read the partition table
The `partprobe` command is used to inform the operating system kernel of changes to the partition table without requiring a system reboot. After creating a new partition on `/dev/sdc`, running `partprobe` makes the kernel re-read the partition table from the disk, ensuring the new partition is recognized and accessible. This is essential for the kernel to update its in-memory representation of the disk's partitions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
To create a filesystem label
Why it's wrong here
Creating a filesystem label is a separate filesystem metadata operation, typically performed with e2label or tune2fs for ext2/3/4, and it sets a human-readable volume name. It does not alter the kernel's partition table state, nor does it make a newly created partition visible to the system. partprobe, in contrast, works at the partition-table level, not the filesystem layer, so this option confuses two distinct administrative tasks.
- ✗
To repair a damaged partition table
Why it's wrong here
Repairing a damaged partition table is a disk-rescue procedure that involves interactive utilities like fdisk, gdisk, or testdisk, which rewrite the partition entries on the storage device. partprobe cannot repair anything; it only instructs the kernel to re-read the partition table after changes have already been made by another tool. While a re-read is sometimes necessary after a repair, the command itself does not perform repair, making this option incorrect.
- ✗
To format the partition with a filesystem
Why it's wrong here
Formatting a partition with a filesystem is accomplished by mkfs (or filesystem-specific variants like mkfs.xfs, mkfs.ext4), which writes the superblock, inode tables, and other filesystem structures onto the partition. partprobe does not create or modify any filesystem; it simply updates the kernel's in-memory representation of the partition layout. Attempting to use partprobe for formatting would leave the partition unformatted, so this option is clearly wrong.
- ✓
To make the kernel re-read the partition table
Why this is correct
partprobe, from the parted suite, is specifically designed to make the Linux kernel re-read the partition table from a disk. After partitioning /dev/sdc, the kernel may still have the old view, so partprobe triggers a revalidation so that the new partition appears as a block device (e.g., /dev/sdc1) without requiring a reboot. This is the correct and intended purpose of the command, though in cases where the disk is in use, a reboot or partx may be needed.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 427 original EX200 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This EX200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Red Hat 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 EX200 exam.