EX200 Create and configure file systems Practice Question
Which THREE commands are required to create a logical volume named lv_data of size 10G in volume group vg_data, format it as XFS, and mount it at /mnt/data?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often include `pvcreate` and `vgcreate` as required steps, but the question specifies that the volume group vg_data already exists, so only the LV creation, formatting, and mounting commands are needed.
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
✓
lvcreate -L 10G -n lv_data vg_data
The `lvcreate -L 10G -n lv_data vg_data` command creates a logical volume named lv_data with a size of 10 GB within the volume group vg_data. This is the standard LVM command for creating logical volumes, where `-L` specifies the size and `-n` specifies the name.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
vgcreate vg_data /dev/sde1
Why it's wrong here
The vgcreate command establishes a volume group from physical volumes, but in this scenario the volume group vg_data already exists and is ready to hold the logical volume. Running vgcreate would attempt to recreate an existing VG, causing an error or unnecessary reinitialization. Because the question asks specifically for the commands that are required to create the logical volume, this command is not among the required set.
- ✓
lvcreate -L 10G -n lv_data vg_data
Why this is correct
This is the primary command that carves out a logical volume named lv_data from the existing volume group vg_data with a size of 10 GiB. The -L flag specifies the size and -n assigns the name, making this an essential step in creating the LV device node under /dev/vg_data/. Without this command, no logical volume would exist to format or mount.
- ✓
mount /dev/vg_data/lv_data /mnt/data
Why this is correct
Mounting is the final required step that attaches the newly formatted XFS filesystem to the system directory tree at /mnt/data. Without a mount point, the logical volume exists and contains a filesystem but is not accessible to users. The mount command uses the device path /dev/vg_data/lv_data and the mount point to complete the creation process from a practical standpoint.
- ✗
pvcreate /dev/sde1
Why it's wrong here
The pvcreate command initializes a raw block device, such as /dev/sde1, as a physical volume for use in LVM. In this scenario, the physical volume has already been created and been added to the volume group vg_data, so re-running pvcreate would overwrite the existing PV metadata. Since the LV creation process begins after the PV and VG are in place, this command is not required.
- ✓
mkfs.xfs /dev/vg_data/lv_data
Why this is correct
After lvcreate produces the logical volume device, it is still just a block device with no filesystem. The mkfs.xfs command writes a fresh XFS filesystem onto /dev/vg_data/lv_data, making it ready for data storage. This is the second required command because the LV cannot be meaningfully used until it has a filesystem.
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