Making Mount Options Permanent: Edit fstab and Remount
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.
Refer to the exhibit. A system administrator wants to add an additional mount option 'noexec' to the /boot filesystem permanently. Which step is necessary before remounting?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Edit /etc/fstab to add 'noexec' to the /boot entry, then run mount -o remount /boot
To make the 'noexec' mount option persistent for /boot, you must first edit /etc/fstab to add the option to the /boot entry. Then, running 'mount -o remount /boot' will remount the filesystem with the new options from fstab without needing to unmount it. This ensures the change survives reboots and is applied correctly.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding 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.
✗
Run mount -o remount,noexec /boot without editing /etc/fstab
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This remounts with noexec but the change is not permanent.
✓
Edit /etc/fstab to add 'noexec' to the /boot entry, then run mount -o remount /boot
Why this is correct
Correct. This makes the change permanent and applies it.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Run umount /boot, edit /etc/fstab to add 'noexec', then mount /boot
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. umount may fail if /boot is in use; remount is safer.
✗
Edit /etc/fstab to add 'noexec' to the /boot entry, then run mount -a
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. mount -a mounts all filesystems from fstab but does not remount already mounted filesystems.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common trap on the RHCSA exam is confusing a temporary remount (which applies options only until the next reboot) with a permanent change via /etc/fstab. Candidates often choose option A thinking a simple remount is sufficient for permanence, but only editing /etc/fstab makes the mount option persistent across reboots.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The /etc/fstab file defines persistent mount options for filesystems; the kernel reads these options at mount time. The 'mount -o remount' command re-reads the mount options from the kernel's mount table or from the command line, but for persistence, the options must be in /etc/fstab. The 'noexec' option prevents direct execution of binaries on the filesystem, which is a common security hardening practice for /boot to mitigate certain attacks, though it may interfere with kernel updates if not handled carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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 — This question tests Create and configure file systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Edit /etc/fstab to add 'noexec' to the /boot entry, then run mount -o remount /boot — To make the 'noexec' mount option persistent for /boot, you must first edit /etc/fstab to add the option to the /boot entry. Then, running 'mount -o remount /boot' will remount the filesystem with the new options from fstab without needing to unmount it. This ensures the change survives reboots and is applied correctly.
What should I do if I get this EX200 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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