EX200 Deploy, configure, and maintain systems Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of deploy, configure, and maintain systems. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 set up an automount point for NFS shares from server nfs.example.com:/exports/backup. The mount point should be /backup and should mount on access. Which configuration is correct?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add to /etc/auto.master: /backup /etc/auto.backup and in /etc/auto.backup: backup -fstype=nfs4 nfs.example.com:/exports/backup
Option C is correct because it defines an autofs indirect map: the master map entry /backup /etc/auto.backup tells autofs to use /etc/auto.backup as the map for the /backup mount point, and the map entry backup -fstype=nfs4 nfs.example.com:/exports/backup specifies that accessing /backup/backup triggers an NFSv4 mount of the remote export. This configuration mounts the share on demand (automount) rather than at boot or via fstab.
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.
✗
Install autofs and create /etc/auto.master.d/backup.autofs with the same content
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the file must be in the correct format; option C is the standard method.
✗
Use systemd-mount with automount options
Why it's wrong here
systemd-mount requires explicit mount units, not automount.
✓
Add to /etc/auto.master: /backup /etc/auto.backup and in /etc/auto.backup: backup -fstype=nfs4 nfs.example.com:/exports/backup
Why this is correct
Correct autofs configuration: master file points to map file.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add an entry to /etc/fstab: nfs.example.com:/exports/backup /backup nfs4 defaults 0 0
Why it's wrong here
fstab is for persistent mounts, not automount on access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse static fstab mounts (which mount at boot) with automount behavior, or they misidentify the correct autofs map file syntax and location, often expecting a single file or a different extension.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Autofs uses a kernel-based automounter that intercepts access attempts on a trigger directory; when a process tries to access /backup/backup, autofs reads the map file, performs the NFS mount, and then allows the access to proceed. The indirect map syntax (key -options location) means the key (backup) becomes a subdirectory under the mount point (/backup), so the actual mount path is /backup/backup. This design avoids mounting all NFS shares at boot and reduces network and resource overhead, which is critical in environments with many NFS exports.
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.
Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — This question tests Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add to /etc/auto.master: /backup /etc/auto.backup and in /etc/auto.backup: backup -fstype=nfs4 nfs.example.com:/exports/backup — Option C is correct because it defines an autofs indirect map: the master map entry /backup /etc/auto.backup tells autofs to use /etc/auto.backup as the map for the /backup mount point, and the map entry backup -fstype=nfs4 nfs.example.com:/exports/backup specifies that accessing /backup/backup triggers an NFSv4 mount of the remote export. This configuration mounts the share on demand (automount) rather than at boot or via fstab.
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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