This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of configure local storage. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A filesystem reports 0% free space in df -h, but when checking the directory size with du -sh, it shows much less usage. 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.
Filesystem is corrupted
Why wrong: Corruption usually causes errors, not space discrepancy.
The disk has bad sectors
Why wrong: Bad sectors may not cause this specific discrepancy.
Deleted files still held open by processes
Open file handles prevent space reclamation.
Filesystem is mounted with noexe
Why wrong: noexec prevents execution, not space issues.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Deleted files still held open by processes
When a file is deleted while a process still holds an open file descriptor to it, the file's data blocks remain allocated on disk and are not freed until the process closes the descriptor. The `df` command reports disk usage based on the filesystem's block allocation, which still counts those blocks as used, while `du` calculates usage by walking the directory tree and cannot see the deleted file's data, leading to the discrepancy.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Filesystem is corrupted
Why it's wrong here
Corruption usually causes errors, not space discrepancy.
The disk has bad sectors
Why it's wrong here
Bad sectors may not cause this specific discrepancy.
Deleted files still held open by processes
Why this is correct
Open file handles prevent space reclamation.
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.
Filesystem is mounted with noexe
Why it's wrong here
noexec prevents execution, not space issues.
Common exam traps
Red Hat often tests the misconception that `df` and `du` should always match, leading candidates to suspect corruption or hardware failure, when the real cause is the classic 'deleted but open file' scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, when a file is deleted but still open, the kernel's inode retains its block pointers and the dentry is removed from the directory, so `du` (which walks directory entries) cannot see it, but `df` reads the superblock's block count, which still includes those blocks. The `lsof` command can list such processes, and restarting the process or using `> /proc/<pid>/fd/<n>` can release the space without a reboot. This scenario is common with log files rotated while a daemon holds them open, causing gradual disk exhaustion.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Configure local storage — This question tests Configure local storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Deleted files still held open by processes — When a file is deleted while a process still holds an open file descriptor to it, the file's data blocks remain allocated on disk and are not freed until the process closes the descriptor. The `df` command reports disk usage based on the filesystem's block allocation, which still counts those blocks as used, while `du` calculates usage by walking the directory tree and cannot see the deleted file's data, leading to the discrepancy.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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