Quick Answer
The correct answer is the series of commands that begins with fdisk /dev/sdd to create the partition, followed by mkswap /dev/sdd1, swapon /dev/sdd1, and an entry in /etc/fstab. This is correct because a swap partition must first be created on the raw disk—since /dev/sdd1 does not exist—using fdisk to define the partition type as Linux swap (82), then formatted with mkswap to write the swap signature, activated with swapon, and finally made permanent by adding an fstab line specifying the device, swap type, and defaults with dump and pass values of 0. On the Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 exam, this task tests your ability to manage storage and ensure swap persistence across reboots; a common trap is skipping the fdisk step and trying to run mkswap on a non-existent partition, or omitting the fstab entry so the swap disappears after reboot. Remember the mnemonic “Create, Format, Activate, Persist” to recall the four essential steps in order.
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of create and configure file systems. 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.
An administrator needs to add a 1GB swap partition on /dev/sdd1. Which series of commands accomplishes this?
mkswap /dev/sdd1 && echo '/dev/sdd1 swap swap defaults 0 0' >> /etc/fstab
Why wrong: Missing swapon.
mkfs.swap /dev/sdd1 && swapon /dev/sdd1
Why wrong: mkfs.swap is not a valid command.
mkswap /dev/sdd1 && swapon /dev/sdd1
Why wrong: Assumes partition already exists.
fdisk /dev/sdd, create partition, then mkswap /dev/sdd1, swapon /dev/sdd1, and add to /etc/fstab.
Correct procedure.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
fdisk /dev/sdd, create partition, then mkswap /dev/sdd1, swapon /dev/sdd1, and add to /etc/fstab.
Option D is correct because it includes all necessary steps: first create the partition with fdisk (since /dev/sdd1 does not exist yet), then format it as swap with mkswap, activate it with swapon, and finally add an entry to /etc/fstab to ensure persistence across reboots. The other options omit the critical partition creation step or fail to make the swap permanent.
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.
mkswap /dev/sdd1 && echo '/dev/sdd1 swap swap defaults 0 0' >> /etc/fstab
Why it's wrong here
Missing swapon.
mkfs.swap /dev/sdd1 && swapon /dev/sdd1
Why it's wrong here
mkfs.swap is not a valid command.
mkswap /dev/sdd1 && swapon /dev/sdd1
Why it's wrong here
Assumes partition already exists.
fdisk /dev/sdd, create partition, then mkswap /dev/sdd1, swapon /dev/sdd1, and add to /etc/fstab.
Why this is correct
Correct procedure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Red Hat often tests the requirement to create the partition first before formatting it as swap, leading candidates to mistakenly choose options that assume the partition already exists or skip the fstab entry for persistence.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
mkfs.swap is not a valid command.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, swap space requires a dedicated partition or file formatted with a swap signature (written by mkswap) and then activated via swapon, which registers it in the kernel's swap subsystem. The /etc/fstab entry uses the mount point 'swap' and the filesystem type 'swap' to automatically run swapon -a at boot. A common real-world scenario is adding swap to a virtual machine or disk that has no existing partition table, making fdisk (or parted) a mandatory first step.
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.
Create and configure file systems — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Create and configure file systems practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All EX200 questions
527 questions across all exam domains
Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
EX200 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Operate running systems.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Configure local storage.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Create and configure file systems.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Deploy, configure, and maintain systems.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Manage users and groups.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Manage security.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Manage containers.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Create simple shell scripts.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Essential Tools.
Practise EX200 questions linked to EX200 fundamentals.
Practise EX200 questions linked to EX200 scenario.
Practise EX200 questions linked to EX200 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Create and configure file systems — This question tests Create and configure file systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: fdisk /dev/sdd, create partition, then mkswap /dev/sdd1, swapon /dev/sdd1, and add to /etc/fstab. — Option D is correct because it includes all necessary steps: first create the partition with fdisk (since /dev/sdd1 does not exist yet), then format it as swap with mkswap, activate it with swapon, and finally add an entry to /etc/fstab to ensure persistence across reboots. The other options omit the critical partition creation step or fail to make the swap permanent.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.