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. The filesystem /var/www/html is mounted, but after a reboot, the directory is empty. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The logical volume is not activated at boot because the volume group is not set to auto-activate
Option D is correct because if the volume group containing the logical volume is not set to auto-activate, the logical volume will not be available after reboot, causing the mount to fail silently or the filesystem to appear empty. The `auto_activation_volume_list` in `/etc/lvm/lvm.conf` controls which volume groups are activated automatically at boot; if the VG is excluded, the LV never becomes visible to the system.
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.
✗
The filesystem type is incorrectly specified as ext4 in fstab
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The filesystem was created as ext4, so the type is correct.
✗
The mount point /var/www/html does not exist after reboot
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. /var/www/html is a standard directory that exists.
✗
The device path /dev/vg_data/lv_web is not persistent across reboots
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. LVM device paths are persistent.
✓
The logical volume is not activated at boot because the volume group is not set to auto-activate
Why this is correct
Correct. If the VG is not auto-activated, the LV device is not available, causing mount to fail at boot.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the misconception that a missing mount point or incorrect fstab entry is the cause, when the real issue is LVM volume group auto-activation being disabled or misconfigured.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
LVM uses the `auto_activation_volume_list` parameter in `/etc/lvm/lvm.conf` to control which volume groups are automatically activated during system boot. If a volume group is not listed or is explicitly excluded, the logical volumes within it remain inactive, and the kernel does not create the device mapper entries for them. This can be verified with `lvm lvchange -ay vg_data/lv_web` to manually activate the volume, or by checking `lvm vgchange -ay` behavior.
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: The logical volume is not activated at boot because the volume group is not set to auto-activate — Option D is correct because if the volume group containing the logical volume is not set to auto-activate, the logical volume will not be available after reboot, causing the mount to fail silently or the filesystem to appear empty. The `auto_activation_volume_list` in `/etc/lvm/lvm.conf` controls which volume groups are activated automatically at boot; if the VG is excluded, the LV never becomes visible to the system.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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