EX200 Create and configure file systems Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of create and configure file systems. 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 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 server is used as a file server. It has a 1 TB disk /dev/sdc formatted as XFS and mounted at /srv/files. The /etc/fstab entry uses the device name /dev/sdc. After a hardware replacement, the new disk is detected as /dev/sdd, and the server fails to boot because /srv/files cannot be mounted. The administrator used 'blkid' and found the new disk's filesystem UUID is 'abc-123'. What is the best course of action to ensure reliable mounting after future reboots?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change the /etc/fstab entry to use UUID=abc-123 and run mount -a
Option B is correct because using the filesystem UUID in /etc/fstab provides a persistent identifier that remains constant regardless of the device name assigned by the kernel. After the hardware replacement, the disk is detected as /dev/sdd, but its UUID ('abc-123') is unchanged. Changing the fstab entry to UUID=abc-123 ensures the system can reliably mount the filesystem on every boot, as the UUID is tied to the filesystem itself, not the kernel's device enumeration order.
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.
✗
Add the 'nofail' option to the /etc/fstab entry and reboot
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This allows boot without mounting, but the filesystem will not be available.
✓
Change the /etc/fstab entry to use UUID=abc-123 and run mount -a
Why this is correct
Correct: UUID is persistent and device-independent.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a symbolic link /dev/sdc pointing to /dev/sdd
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Symbolic links may not survive reboots and are not reliable.
✗
Use PARTUUID instead of UUID in /etc/fstab
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: PARTUUID identifies the partition, not the filesystem, and may also change.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think using the device name is sufficient because it worked before, or they may overcomplicate the fix with symlinks or PARTUUID, failing to recognize that the filesystem UUID is the simplest and most robust persistent identifier for mounting filesystems in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Linux kernel assigns device names (e.g., /dev/sdc) based on the order of discovery during boot, which can change after hardware swaps. The blkid command reads the filesystem UUID from the superblock (stored at a fixed offset on the partition), which is generated at mkfs time and remains constant unless the filesystem is recreated. Using UUID in /etc/fstab leverages the udev device manager to resolve the UUID to the correct block device dynamically, ensuring reliable mounts even if the kernel assigns a different device name.
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: Change the /etc/fstab entry to use UUID=abc-123 and run mount -a — Option B is correct because using the filesystem UUID in /etc/fstab provides a persistent identifier that remains constant regardless of the device name assigned by the kernel. After the hardware replacement, the disk is detected as /dev/sdd, but its UUID ('abc-123') is unchanged. Changing the fstab entry to UUID=abc-123 ensures the system can reliably mount the filesystem on every boot, as the UUID is tied to the filesystem itself, not the kernel's device enumeration order.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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