- A
Remove the disk that contains the problematic mount
Why wrong: Incorrect. Removing a disk is not a recovery step and may cause data loss.
- B
Boot into single-user mode and run 'mount -a' to list errors
Why wrong: Incorrect. If fstab is invalid, mount -a will fail and may hang the system.
- C
Boot from installation media and reinstall the operating system
Why wrong: Incorrect. Reinstalling is drastic and unnecessary; only fstab needs correction.
- D
At the maintenance shell, run 'systemctl emergency' to drop to emergency mode
Why wrong: Incorrect. The system may already be in emergency mode; 'systemctl emergency' changes runlevel but doesn't fix fstab.
- E
Boot into rescue mode and comment out or correct the problematic line in /etc/fstab
Correct. Rescue mode allows access to the system's root filesystem to edit fstab.
EX200 Configure local storage Practice Question
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.
After editing /etc/fstab to add a mount for /data, the system fails to boot and drops to a maintenance shell. Which recovery step should be taken first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Boot into rescue mode and comment out or correct the problematic line in /etc/fstab
Option E is correct because when a misconfigured /etc/fstab entry prevents the system from booting, the first recovery step is to boot into rescue mode (or single-user mode if available) and edit /etc/fstab to comment out or correct the problematic line. This restores the ability to boot normally without reinstalling or removing hardware.
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.
- ✗
Remove the disk that contains the problematic mount
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Removing a disk is not a recovery step and may cause data loss.
- ✗
Boot into single-user mode and run 'mount -a' to list errors
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. If fstab is invalid, mount -a will fail and may hang the system.
- ✗
Boot from installation media and reinstall the operating system
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Reinstalling is drastic and unnecessary; only fstab needs correction.
- ✗
At the maintenance shell, run 'systemctl emergency' to drop to emergency mode
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The system may already be in emergency mode; 'systemctl emergency' changes runlevel but doesn't fix fstab.
- ✓
Boot into rescue mode and comment out or correct the problematic line in /etc/fstab
Why this is correct
Correct. Rescue mode allows access to the system's root filesystem to edit fstab.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" 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 may think 'mount -a' will show errors or that switching to emergency mode is a recovery step, when in fact the immediate fix is to edit /etc/fstab directly from the maintenance shell or rescue mode.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
During boot, systemd reads /etc/fstab and attempts to mount each entry; if a mount fails (e.g., due to an incorrect device path or options), the boot process drops to emergency.target or rescue.target. The correct recovery involves booting with 'rd.break' or from installation media into rescue mode, then editing /etc/fstab to fix the entry, and finally running 'systemctl daemon-reload' to reload the unit files before rebooting.
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Configure local storage practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
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: Boot into rescue mode and comment out or correct the problematic line in /etc/fstab — Option E is correct because when a misconfigured /etc/fstab entry prevents the system from booting, the first recovery step is to boot into rescue mode (or single-user mode if available) and edit /etc/fstab to comment out or correct the problematic line. This restores the ability to boot normally without reinstalling or removing hardware.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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