EX200 Create and configure file systems Practice Question
An administrator wants to ensure that a file system is automatically mounted at boot. Which file should be edited?
⚠ Common exam trap
Red Hat often tests the distinction between configuration files (/etc/fstab) and runtime or bootloader files, leading candidates to mistakenly choose /etc/rc.local or /boot/grub2/grub.cfg because they associate 'boot' with bootloader or startup scripts.
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
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/etc/fstab
The /etc/fstab file is the standard configuration file that defines how disk partitions, block devices, and remote filesystems should be mounted into the filesystem tree, including options for automatic mounting at boot time. The system reads this file during the boot process (via systemd or the traditional mount -a command) to mount all filesystems listed with the 'auto' or nofail 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.
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/etc/rc.local
Why it's wrong here
/etc/rc.local is historically a script executed at the end of the boot process, but it is not a filesystem configuration file. Using mount commands there is unreliable because the systemd rc-local service is often not enabled by default, and mounting in rc.local occurs after systemd has already processed mount units, potentially causing ordering issues. The standard, persistent way to guarantee a filesystem is mounted at boot is to define it in /etc/fstab, which mount and systemd consult directly.
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/etc/fstab
Why this is correct
/etc/fstab is the filesystem table that the system reads at boot to determine which filesystems must be mounted, where, and with what options. It contains fields for the device or UUID, mount point, filesystem type, mount options, dump flag, and fsck pass order. Both the mount command and systemd's fstab generator use this file to create mount units, making it the definitive configuration for automatic mount-at-boot behavior on a Linux system.
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/boot/grub2/grub.cfg
Why it's wrong here
/boot/grub2/grub.cfg is the GRUB 2 bootloader configuration file that controls which kernel and initramfs are loaded and what kernel command-line parameters are passed. It has no role in mounting filesystems after boot; its directives such as 'linux' and 'initrd' only set up the boot process. Filesystem mounting is managed by the kernel and systemd (or the init system) after control is handed off, and the proper place to define mount behavior is /etc/fstab.
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/etc/mtab
Why it's wrong here
/etc/mtab is a runtime file that lists the filesystems currently mounted on the system, and it is typically a symlink to /proc/mounts on modern systems. It is maintained automatically by the kernel and mount commands, and it is never read to determine which filesystems should be mounted at boot. Trying to configure persistent mounts by editing /etc/mtab would be useless and incorrect because the file is regenerated dynamically and not used as a source of configuration.
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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.