This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of configure local storage. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 is configuring a RAID 1 (mirror) using two 100GB disks /dev/sda and /dev/sdb. After creating the array, which command(s) will verify the array status? (Choose the best answer.)
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.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Both A and B
Option E is correct because both `mdadm --detail /dev/md0` and `mdadm --examine /dev/sda` are valid commands to verify the status of a RAID 1 array. `mdadm --detail /dev/md0` shows the current state, sync status, and member disks of the assembled array, while `mdadm --examine /dev/sda` displays the superblock metadata on a component disk, confirming its role in the array and its health. Together, they provide a complete verification from both the array and disk perspectives.
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.
✗
mdadm --detail /dev/md0
Why it's wrong here
Partially correct but incomplete; cat /proc/mdstat also works.
✗
mdadm --examine /dev/sda
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This examines the superblock on a component disk, not the array status.
✗
cat /proc/mdstat
Why it's wrong here
Partially correct but incomplete; mdadm --detail also works.
✗
mdadm --query /dev/md0
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This shows brief info but not detailed status.
✓
Both A and B
Why this is correct
Correct. Both mdadm --detail and cat /proc/mdstat display RAID array status.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "which command" 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 often think only one command is needed, but the EX200 exam tests that `--detail` verifies the assembled array and `--examine` verifies the component disks, requiring both for complete status verification.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. This shows brief info but not detailed status.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `mdadm --detail` reads the kernel's MD driver state via sysfs, while `mdadm --examine` reads the RAID superblock (version 1.0, 1.1, or 1.2) stored at the end or beginning of each component disk. In a real-world scenario, after a disk failure, `--examine` on the surviving disk can reveal the array's UUID and event count, while `--detail` on the array shows the degraded state; using both ensures you catch inconsistencies like a disk that was removed and re-added with stale metadata.
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: Both A and B — Option E is correct because both `mdadm --detail /dev/md0` and `mdadm --examine /dev/sda` are valid commands to verify the status of a RAID 1 array. `mdadm --detail /dev/md0` shows the current state, sync status, and member disks of the assembled array, while `mdadm --examine /dev/sda` displays the superblock metadata on a component disk, confirming its role in the array and its health. Together, they provide a complete verification from both the array and disk perspectives.
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", "which command". 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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