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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
# lsblk
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 10G 0 disk
├─sda1 8:1 0 1G 0 part /boot
├─sda2 8:2 0 8G 0 part
│ └─vg01-root 253:0 0 8G 0 lvm /
└─sda3 8:3 0 1G 0 part [SWAP]
sdb 8:16 0 100G 0 disk
└─sdb1 8:17 0 100G 0 part
└─vg01-data 253:1 0 100G 0 lvm /data
An administrator wants to add 20GB of additional space to the root filesystem. The volume group vg01 has no free extents. Which action 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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Attach a new disk, create a physical volume on it, add it to vg01 with vgextend, then extend vg01-root
Option D is correct because to extend the root filesystem when the volume group has no free extents, you must first add a new physical volume to the volume group. This involves attaching a new disk, creating a physical volume on it with `pvcreate`, adding it to vg01 with `vgextend`, and then using `lvextend` followed by `resize2fs` (or `xfs_growfs` for XFS) to extend the logical volume and filesystem. This sequence ensures the volume group has available extents before extending the logical volume.
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.
✗
Shrink the logical volume vg01-data and then extend vg01-root
Why it's wrong here
Shrinking a filesystem is risky and requires offline steps; not the best first action when a new disk can be added.
✗
Run vgextend vg01 /dev/sdc (assuming /dev/sdc is a new disk) but this command requires the PV to be created first
Why it's wrong here
vgextend requires the PV to already be created with pvcreate; it is not the first step.
✗
Use lvextend to extend the root logical volume into the free space of sdb1
Why it's wrong here
There is no free space on sdb1; it is fully allocated to vg01-data.
✓
Attach a new disk, create a physical volume on it, add it to vg01 with vgextend, then extend vg01-root
Why this is correct
This is the correct sequence: add a new disk, pvcreate, vgextend, then lvextend to increase root.
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 they can directly extend a logical volume into free space on a disk that is not part of the volume group, or they may forget that `vgextend` requires a physical volume to be created first with `pvcreate`.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, LVM uses physical extents (PEs) as the smallest allocatable unit, typically 4 MiB by default. When a volume group has no free extents, `lvextend` will fail with a 'No space left' error. Adding a new physical volume increases the pool of PEs, allowing the logical volume to be extended. In real-world scenarios, administrators often use `pvmove` to relocate extents before shrinking, but adding a new disk is the simplest and safest method when no free extents exist.
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: Attach a new disk, create a physical volume on it, add it to vg01 with vgextend, then extend vg01-root — Option D is correct because to extend the root filesystem when the volume group has no free extents, you must first add a new physical volume to the volume group. This involves attaching a new disk, creating a physical volume on it with `pvcreate`, adding it to vg01 with `vgextend`, and then using `lvextend` followed by `resize2fs` (or `xfs_growfs` for XFS) to extend the logical volume and filesystem. This sequence ensures the volume group has available extents before extending the logical volume.
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.
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.