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 technician is configuring a new Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 server with multiple disks. They need to create a RAID 1 array using /dev/sda and /dev/sdb for the /boot partition. Which tool can create the RAID array and enable booting from it?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use mdadm to create a RAID1 device and install GRUB on both disks
Option A is correct because mdadm is the standard Linux tool for creating software RAID arrays, including RAID 1 (mirroring). For the /boot partition, which must be readable by the bootloader, GRUB must be installed on both disks in the RAID 1 array to ensure bootability if one disk fails. mdadm creates the RAID device, and GRUB can then be installed on each disk's MBR or GPT partition.
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.
✓
Use mdadm to create a RAID1 device and install GRUB on both disks
Why this is correct
mdadm creates the RAID array; GRUB can be installed on each disk's MBR to allow booting from either disk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use parted to create a RAID array directly by specifying the RAID level
Why it's wrong here
parted does not create RAID arrays; it only creates partitions. RAID is created by mdadm.
✗
Use fdisk to create a RAID partition and then format with ext4
Why it's wrong here
fdisk can only mark a partition with RAID type, but the actual RAID device is created with mdadm.
✗
Use LVM to create a mirrored logical volume for /boot
Why it's wrong here
LVM mirroring is not recommended for /boot because GRUB does not support reading from LVM mirrored volumes reliably.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think LVM mirroring is acceptable for /boot, but Red Hat exams emphasize that /boot must not use LVM or complex RAID levels; only RAID 1 with mdadm and GRUB on both disks is supported for bootability.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, mdadm uses the MD (Multiple Device) driver in the Linux kernel to manage RAID arrays. When creating a RAID 1 array for /boot, the metadata version must be 0.90 or 1.0 (stored at the end of the disk) to ensure GRUB can access the array without needing the mdadm tool. In practice, after creating the array with mdadm, you must run grub2-install on both /dev/sda and /dev/sdb to embed the bootloader in each disk's boot sector, enabling booting from either disk.
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: Use mdadm to create a RAID1 device and install GRUB on both disks — Option A is correct because mdadm is the standard Linux tool for creating software RAID arrays, including RAID 1 (mirroring). For the /boot partition, which must be readable by the bootloader, GRUB must be installed on both disks in the RAID 1 array to ensure bootability if one disk fails. mdadm creates the RAID device, and GRUB can then be installed on each disk's MBR or GPT partition.
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.
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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