Quick Answer
The answer is `find /var/log -mmin -120`. This command is correct because the `-mmin` option tells `find` to locate files based on their modification time in minutes, and the negative sign before `120` means “within the last 120 minutes,” which is exactly two hours. On the Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 exam, this tests your ability to use time-based `find` options for system auditing and log management, a common real-world task. A frequent trap is confusing `-mmin` (modification time) with `-cmin` (change time, which includes metadata changes) or forgetting the minus sign, which would instead find files modified exactly 120 minutes ago. To remember: think of the minus as “minus time from now,” so `-120` means “the last 120 minutes.” A handy mnemonic is “Minus minutes means more recent.”
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of essential tools. 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 find all files in /var/log that have been modified in the last 2 hours. Which command should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
find /var/log -mmin -120
Correctly finds files modified in the last 120 minutes.
find /var/log -amin -120
Why wrong: amin checks access time, not modification.
find /var/log -mtime -0.08
Why wrong: Invalid syntax; mtime expects integer days.
find /var/log -cmin -120
Why wrong: cmin checks inode change time, not modification.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
find /var/log -mmin -120
Option A is correct because the `find` command with `-mmin -120` searches for files whose data was modified (changed content) within the last 120 minutes. This directly matches the requirement to find files modified in the last 2 hours in /var/log.
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.
find /var/log -mmin -120
Why this is correct
Correctly finds files modified in the last 120 minutes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
find /var/log -amin -120
Why it's wrong here
amin checks access time, not modification.
find /var/log -mtime -0.08
Why it's wrong here
Invalid syntax; mtime expects integer days.
find /var/log -cmin -120
Why it's wrong here
cmin checks inode change time, not modification.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing `-mmin` (modification time) with `-cmin` (change time) or `-amin` (access time), as candidates often misremember which flag tracks content changes versus metadata or access events.
Detailed technical explanation
The `-mmin` flag checks the `mtime` (modification time) field in the inode, which records the last time file content was written. In contrast, `-cmin` checks `ctime` (change time), which updates on metadata changes like chmod or chown, even if content is untouched. A real-world scenario: using `-mmin` is critical for log rotation scripts that need to identify logs with recent writes, avoiding false positives from permission changes.
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
Essential Tools — This question tests Essential Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: find /var/log -mmin -120 — Option A is correct because the `find` command with `-mmin -120` searches for files whose data was modified (changed content) within the last 120 minutes. This directly matches the requirement to find files modified in the last 2 hours in /var/log.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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.
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