This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of configure local storage. 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.
A junior admin receives a ticket: 'The /var partition is filling up quickly. The server has an extra 100GB disk /dev/sdb. The /var filesystem is on logical volume lv_var in volume group vg_system. Currently, vg_system has no free extents. The admin's plan: create a new physical volume on /dev/sdb, extend vg_system, extend lv_var, and resize the filesystem. He runs: pvcreate /dev/sdb; vgextend vg_system /dev/sdb; lvextend -L+100G /dev/vg_system/lv_var; resize2fs /dev/vg_system/lv_var. The system reports error: 'resize2fs: Invalid argument while trying to open /dev/vg_system/lv_var'. What is the most likely mistake?
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
✓
He used resize2fs instead of xfs_growfs because /var is typically XFS.
Option D is correct because the error 'resize2fs: Invalid argument while trying to open /dev/vg_system/lv_var' indicates that the filesystem on lv_var is not ext2/3/4 but likely XFS. RHEL 8/9 defaults to XFS for /var, and XFS requires xfs_growfs (which operates on a mount point, not a block device) instead of resize2fs. Using resize2fs on an XFS filesystem produces this exact error.
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.
✗
He should have used lvresize instead of lvextend.
Why it's wrong here
lvextend is the correct command to extend a logical volume.
✗
He forgot to run partprobe after pvcreate.
Why it's wrong here
pvcreate on a whole disk does not require partprobe.
✗
The lvextend command failed because vg_system has no free extents.
Why it's wrong here
He extended the VG with a new PV before lvextend, so free extents exist.
✓
He used resize2fs instead of xfs_growfs because /var is typically XFS.
Why this is correct
RHEL 8/9 defaults to XFS; resize2fs is for ext filesystems.
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
The trap here is that candidates assume all Linux filesystems use resize2fs, but EX200 tests the RHEL default of XFS, which requires xfs_growfs and a mount point argument, not a block device.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
lvextend is the correct command to extend a logical volume.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
XFS filesystems cannot be shrunk and must be grown using xfs_growfs, which requires the mount point as an argument (e.g., xfs_growfs /var). The resize2fs command is specific to ext2/3/4 filesystems and expects a block device; when given an XFS block device, it returns 'Invalid argument' because the superblock magic number does not match ext* signatures. In RHEL 8/9, the default filesystem for /, /var, and /home is XFS, making this a common pitfall for administrators accustomed to ext4.
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.
Configure local storage — This question tests Configure local storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: He used resize2fs instead of xfs_growfs because /var is typically XFS. — Option D is correct because the error 'resize2fs: Invalid argument while trying to open /dev/vg_system/lv_var' indicates that the filesystem on lv_var is not ext2/3/4 but likely XFS. RHEL 8/9 defaults to XFS for /var, and XFS requires xfs_growfs (which operates on a mount point, not a block device) instead of resize2fs. Using resize2fs on an XFS filesystem produces this exact error.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.