EX200 Create and configure file systems Practice Question
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator needs to create a new 5GB filesystem for /var/log. Which step is required?
⚠ Common exam trap
For RHCSA, the key trap is that candidates often forget to add the new disk as a physical volume (pvcreate) before extending the volume group. They may try to directly create a logical volume on the raw disk or add it to the VG without the pvcreate step.
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
✓
Add /dev/sdc as a physical volume, extend vg00, create a logical volume, and format
To create a new filesystem for /var/log using available space on /dev/sdc, the disk must first be added as a physical volume (pvcreate), then added to the existing volume group vg00 (vgextend). After extending the VG, a new logical volume can be created (lvcreate) and formatted with a filesystem (e.g., mkfs.xfs). This approach leverages LVM's flexibility to allocate space from multiple physical volumes without requiring a separate volume group or partition manipulation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a new partition on /dev/sdc and format with xfs
Why it's wrong here
Using a separate disk is possible, but the exhibit shows /dev/sdc has no filesystem on sdc1; however, sdc1 exists but no FSTYPE. Could be used, but the question asks about creating a filesystem; LVM might be more flexible. But the answer is not wrong per se. However, the exhibit shows VG vg00 has no free space, so you cannot extend vg00. You would need to use /dev/sdc or another disk.
- ✗
Shrink /home to free space in vg00 and create a new LV
Why it's wrong here
Shrinking `/home` to reclaim space from `vg00` would not address the requirement because the scenario likely involves a separate volume group or dedicated disk for `/var/log`, not shared space in `vg00`. This option is tempting because shrinking a logical volume to free space in a volume group is a standard method for reallocating storage when multiple filesystems share the same VG; it would be correct if `/var/log` were also in `vg00` and free space were needed there.
- ✓
Add /dev/sdc as a physical volume, extend vg00, create a logical volume, and format
Why this is correct
The exhibit shows VG vg00 has no free physical extents, so you cannot create a new logical volume in that volume group without first adding capacity. Adding /dev/sdc as a physical volume via pvcreate or vgextend expands the VG's available space, after which a new logical volume can be created with lvcreate and then formatted with a filesystem such as xfs using mkfs.xfs. This is the standard approach when a dedicated disk is available and the goal is to allocate a new filesystem from an existing volume group.
- ✗
Create a new volume group using /dev/sdb
Why it's wrong here
Creating a new volume group from /dev/sdb is incorrect because the exhibit shows /dev/sdb already contains an ext4 filesystem and is mounted at /mnt/backup. Reusing that device for a new VG would require destroying its existing filesystem with pvcreate, causing data loss and disrupting the backup mount. Even if you intended to keep it separate, the requirement is to create a new filesystem, and /dev/sdb is already allocated for backup storage, whereas /dev/sdc is free and unformatted, making it the appropriate device to integrate into vg00.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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