EX200 Create and configure file systems Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of create and configure file systems. 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 needs to create a new 500MB swap partition on a disk that already has an extended partition. The disk /dev/sda has partitions: /dev/sda1 (primary, /boot), /dev/sda2 (extended), /dev/sda5 (logical, swap, 2GB). The administrator wants to add another swap partition, but fdisk shows no free space. Which approach should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a file-based swap file
Option B is correct because the disk has no free space (the extended partition consumes all remaining space after /dev/sda1, and logical partitions are contained within it). Adding a swap file is the simplest and safest approach: it does not require repartitioning, works with any filesystem, and is fully supported by systemd and swapon. The administrator can create a 500MB file, format it as swap with mkswap, and enable it with swapon.
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 LVM to create a logical volume for swap
Why it's wrong here
LVM would require converting the disk, which is more complex.
✓
Use a file-based swap file
Why this is correct
Swap files can be created on a mounted filesystem without repartitioning.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Shrink the filesystem on /dev/sda1 to create free space
Why it's wrong here
Shrinking /boot is not recommended and unlikely to yield space.
✗
Delete /dev/sda5 and recreate it with larger size
Why it's wrong here
Would lose existing swap and may require data re-creation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a new partition must be created, overlooking that swap files are a fully supported and simpler alternative when no free partition space exists.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Swap files are supported on most filesystems (ext4, XFS, Btrfs) and are managed by the kernel via the swap subsystem; they can be created with dd or fallocate, then prepared with mkswap. A key subtlety is that swap files on Btrfs require special setup (loopback device or nocow attribute), but on ext4/XFS they work directly. In real-world scenarios, swap files are often preferred in cloud or container environments where resizing disks is impractical.
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.
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: Use a file-based swap file — Option B is correct because the disk has no free space (the extended partition consumes all remaining space after /dev/sda1, and logical partitions are contained within it). Adding a swap file is the simplest and safest approach: it does not require repartitioning, works with any filesystem, and is fully supported by systemd and swapon. The administrator can create a 500MB file, format it as swap with mkswap, and enable it with swapon.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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