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 system administrator at a company is configuring a new storage array for a file server. The server uses LVM on top of a hardware RAID5 array. The administrator has created a volume group "vg_data" and a logical volume "lv_docs" intended for an XFS filesystem. After formatting with mkfs.xfs and mounting to /docs, the system works. However, after a reboot, the mount point is empty and the logical volume is not mounted. The administrator checks /etc/fstab and finds an entry using the device path /dev/vg_data/lv_docs. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The volume group is not activated during boot because the LVM service is not enabled
Option D is correct because LVM volume groups are not automatically activated during boot unless the lvm2-lvmetad service (or equivalent LVM service) is enabled. Without this service, the system does not scan for and activate volume groups, so logical volumes like /dev/vg_data/lv_docs are not available for mounting. The /etc/fstab entry using the device path fails silently, leaving /docs empty.
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.
✗
The mount point /docs was deleted during reboot
Why it's wrong here
Mount points are not automatically deleted on reboot.
✗
The XFS filesystem was corrupted during reboot
Why it's wrong here
Corruption on a clean system shutdown is uncommon.
✗
The logical volume name is misspelled in /etc/fstab
Why it's wrong here
The name worked before reboot; spelling is likely correct.
✓
The volume group is not activated during boot because the LVM service is not enabled
Why this is correct
The LVM service must be enabled for automatic activation.
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 a valid /etc/fstab entry with the correct device path guarantees mounting after reboot, overlooking the prerequisite that LVM volume groups must be activated by a system service before the device is accessible.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, LVM volume groups are activated by the lvm2-lvmetad daemon (or lvm2-activation-generator in systemd-based systems) which scans /dev for PVs, assembles VGs, and makes LVs available. If the lvm2-lvmetad service is not enabled (e.g., systemctl enable lvm2-lvmetad), the kernel does not automatically activate VGs, and device mapper nodes for LVs are not created. In a real-world scenario, this often occurs after a minimal installation where LVM services are not enabled by default, or after a system migration where the initramfs lacks LVM tools.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: The volume group is not activated during boot because the LVM service is not enabled — Option D is correct because LVM volume groups are not automatically activated during boot unless the lvm2-lvmetad service (or equivalent LVM service) is enabled. Without this service, the system does not scan for and activate volume groups, so logical volumes like /dev/vg_data/lv_docs are not available for mounting. The /etc/fstab entry using the device path fails silently, leaving /docs empty.
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.
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Question Discussion
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