EX200 Deploy, configure, and maintain systems Practice Question
Which TWO files are essential in the /boot directory for the kernel to boot?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse the bootloader configuration file (grub.cfg) with a kernel-essential file, or they think the generic term 'kernel' is an actual filename, when in fact the correct filename is vmlinuz.
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
✓
initramfs
The initramfs (initial RAM filesystem) is essential because it contains the necessary drivers and tools to mount the root filesystem before the kernel can take over. Without it, the kernel would not be able to access the storage device containing the root partition, especially when using filesystems or hardware that require kernel modules not built into the kernel itself.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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fstab
Why it's wrong here
The fstab file lives at /etc/fstab, not /boot, and it is not consumed by the bootloader or kernel during early boot. It is read later by systemd and the mount utilities to know which filesystems to mount at which mount points, but the kernel and initramfs only need the root device and its drivers to get the system up. Even if /etc/fstab is missing, the kernel can still boot and then drop into emergency mode; therefore it is not one of the two essential /boot files.
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grub.cfg
Why it's wrong here
grub.cfg is the GRUB bootloader's configuration file, normally located at /boot/grub2/grub.cfg on RHEL, and it is not an actual kernel artifact. GRUB can still start the kernel from its interactive command prompt with an explicit vmlinuz and initramfs path, or from a fallback entry, so the absence of grub.cfg does not make the kernel boot impossible. Because the question asks for the two essential files in /boot, grub.cfg is not required in the same way that the kernel image and its initramfs are.
- ✓
initramfs
Why this is correct
initramfs (the initial RAM filesystem) is an essential boot file because it contains the device modules, LVM/encryption tools, and udev rules needed to discover and mount the real root filesystem. During early boot the kernel extracts initramfs into a tmpfs and executes /init, which probes storage hardware, activates volumes, and then switches to the actual root. Without an initramfs, most Linux systems cannot boot unless every required storage driver is statically built into the kernel, which is rarely the case in distributions.
- ✓
vmlinuz
Why this is correct
vmlinuz is the compressed, self-extracting Linux kernel image that contains the core operating system code that runs first after being loaded by GRUB. UEFI or BIOS firmware hands the loader to GRUB, which reads /boot/vmlinuz-$(uname -r) and passes control to it, and this image is absolutely required for any boot to complete. The 'vm' prefix and 'z' (gzip compressed) are legacy naming conventions, but on modern RHEL systems the kernel file is always vmlinuz.
- ✗
kernel
Why it's wrong here
'kernel' is not the conventional filename of the bootable kernel image; on RHEL the image is delivered as /boot/vmlinuz-<version>, and the actual uncompressed kernel may reside inside that compressed file. A file literally named /boot/kernel is not the standardized artifact that GRUB expects, and using that name would break the normal boot process. The correct essential kernel artifact is vmlinuz, so this option is a distractor.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This EX200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Red Hat certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the EX200 exam.