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.
An administrator attempts to mount an XFS filesystem from /dev/sdc1 to /mnt/archive but receives the error: 'mount: /mnt/archive: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sdc1, missing codepage or helper program, or other error.' The output of 'dumpe2fs /dev/sdc1' shows 'dumpe2fs: Bad magic number in super-block while trying to open /dev/sdc1'. What is the most likely problem?
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.
Why wrong: Mount point missing would give 'mount point does not exist'.
B
The filesystem on /dev/sdc1 is XFS, not ext4
dumpe2fs is for ext2/3/4; if it shows bad magic number, the device likely contains a different filesystem like XFS. Running mount with -t xfs would work.
C
The XFS kernel module is not loaded
Why wrong: XFS module is typically built-in; if missing, mount would say 'unknown filesystem type'.
D
The partition /dev/sdc1 does not exist
Why wrong: If partition didn't exist, mount would say 'no such device' or similar.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The filesystem on /dev/sdc1 is XFS, not ext4
The error message 'wrong fs type' combined with 'dumpe2fs: Bad magic number in super-block' indicates that the filesystem on /dev/sdc1 is not an ext2/3/4 filesystem. dumpe2fs is designed to read ext2/3/4 superblocks, and the 'bad magic number' error means it cannot find a valid ext superblock. Since the administrator is trying to mount an XFS filesystem, the correct tool to examine it is xfs_db or xfs_info, not dumpe2fs. Therefore, the most likely problem is that the filesystem is XFS, not ext4.
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 /mnt/archive does not exist
Why it's wrong here
Mount point missing would give 'mount point does not exist'.
✓
The filesystem on /dev/sdc1 is XFS, not ext4
Why this is correct
dumpe2fs is for ext2/3/4; if it shows bad magic number, the device likely contains a different filesystem like XFS. Running mount with -t xfs would work.
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.
✗
The XFS kernel module is not loaded
Why it's wrong here
XFS module is typically built-in; if missing, mount would say 'unknown filesystem type'.
✗
The partition /dev/sdc1 does not exist
Why it's wrong here
If partition didn't exist, mount would say 'no such device' or similar.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates see 'bad superblock' and immediately think of ext4 superblock corruption or backup superblock recovery, when in fact the error is simply due to using an ext4-specific tool (dumpe2fs) on a non-ext4 filesystem.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
If partition didn't exist, mount would say 'no such device' or similar.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Each filesystem type has a unique superblock magic number stored at a specific offset on the partition. For ext4, the magic number is 0xEF53; for XFS, it is 'XFSB' (0x58465342). dumpe2fs looks for the ext magic number and fails when it encounters an XFS superblock. This is a common scenario when a disk is formatted with a different filesystem than expected, and using the wrong diagnostic tool leads to misleading errors.
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: The filesystem on /dev/sdc1 is XFS, not ext4 — The error message 'wrong fs type' combined with 'dumpe2fs: Bad magic number in super-block' indicates that the filesystem on /dev/sdc1 is not an ext2/3/4 filesystem. dumpe2fs is designed to read ext2/3/4 superblocks, and the 'bad magic number' error means it cannot find a valid ext superblock. Since the administrator is trying to mount an XFS filesystem, the correct tool to examine it is xfs_db or xfs_info, not dumpe2fs. Therefore, the most likely problem is that the filesystem is XFS, not ext4.
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.