Creating XFS Filesystem with Label and Mounting It
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of create and configure file systems. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
$ lsblk -f
NAME FSTYPE LABEL UUID MOUNTPOINT
sda
├─sda1 xfs abcdef12-3456-7890-abcd-ef1234567890 /boot
├─sda2 swap 12345678-... [SWAP]
└─sda3 LVM2_member ... /
sdb
└─sdb1
The administrator wants to mount a new filesystem on /dev/sdb1 with the label 'backup' and mount it at /mnt/backup. Which commands achieve this?
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
$ lsblk -f
NAME FSTYPE LABEL UUID MOUNTPOINT
sda
├─sda1 xfs abcdef12-3456-7890-abcd-ef1234567890 /boot
├─sda2 swap 12345678-... [SWAP]
└─sda3 LVM2_member ... /
sdb
└─sdb1
Why wrong: Incorrect because it includes a parted command for partition creation (which may not be needed if /dev/sdb1 already exists) and does not mount the filesystem.
Both options B and C correctly create an XFS filesystem with the label 'backup' on /dev/sdb1 and mount it to /mnt/backup. Option B uses mkfs.xfs, then sets the label with xfs_admin, then mounts by label (mount -L works without fstab). Option C creates the filesystem with the label in one step and mounts by device path. Options A and D are incorrect: A includes an unnecessary parted command and uses ext4? Actually A creates an XFS partition but then mounts? Wait A: parted ... mkpart primary xfs ... && mkfs.xfs -L backup /dev/sdb1. It doesn't mount, so incomplete. D uses ext4, not XFS. Thus B and C are both valid.
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.
Incorrect because it includes a parted command for partition creation (which may not be needed if /dev/sdb1 already exists) and does not mount the filesystem.
Incorrect because it uses ext4 instead of XFS, and the mount command is missing (only adds to fstab but does not mount immediately).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may think mounting by label requires an /etc/fstab entry (as initially stated in the explanation for B), but mount -L works without fstab. Also, they might overlook that both B and C are valid sequences.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect because it includes a parted command for partition creation (which may not be needed if /dev/sdb1 already exists) and does not mount the filesystem.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The mkfs.xfs command with the -L option sets the filesystem label during creation, which is stored in the XFS superblock. The mount command can reference a device by path or label; mounting by device path (/dev/sdb1) is straightforward and does not require the label to be set first. In real-world scenarios, using labels in /etc/fstab (e.g., LABEL=backup) provides flexibility if device names change, but the question only asks to mount it, not to make the mount persistent.
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: mkfs.xfs /dev/sdb1 && xfs_admin -L backup /dev/sdb1 && mount -L backup /mnt/backup — Both options B and C correctly create an XFS filesystem with the label 'backup' on /dev/sdb1 and mount it to /mnt/backup. Option B uses mkfs.xfs, then sets the label with xfs_admin, then mounts by label (mount -L works without fstab). Option C creates the filesystem with the label in one step and mounts by device path. Options A and D are incorrect: A includes an unnecessary parted command and uses ext4? Actually A creates an XFS partition but then mounts? Wait A: parted ... mkpart primary xfs ... && mkfs.xfs -L backup /dev/sdb1. It doesn't mount, so incomplete. D uses ext4, not XFS. Thus B and C are both valid.
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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