This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of configure local storage. 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 wants to add an additional swap partition of 2GB on device /dev/sdb1. Which set of commands should be used to enable swap and make it persistent across reboots?
Option C is correct because it follows the proper sequence to prepare and activate a swap partition on /dev/sdb1. First, `mkswap` initializes the partition as a swap area by writing a swap signature. Then `swapon` activates it immediately. Finally, adding an entry to /etc/fstab ensures the swap is automatically enabled at boot, making it persistent across reboots.
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.
✗
parted /dev/sdb set 1 swap on
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. parted's set command changes partition type but does not enable swap.
✗
swapadd /dev/sdb1
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'swapadd' is not a standard Linux command.
Correct. This sequence prepares, activates, and persists swap.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1; mount /dev/sdb1 /swap
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This creates an ext4 filesystem, not swap, and does not enable swapping.
✗
None of the above
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Option A is correct.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the distinction between filesystem creation (`mkfs.*`) and swap initialization (`mkswap`), and the trap here is that candidates may confuse `swapon` with a non-existent command like `swapadd` or think `parted` can enable swap directly.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. parted's set command changes partition type but does not enable swap.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `mkswap` command writes a swap signature (UUID and label) to the partition, which the kernel recognizes as swap space. The `swapon` command registers the partition with the kernel's memory manager, allowing pages to be swapped out. The /etc/fstab entry uses the 'swap' filesystem type and 'sw' mount options; the kernel reads this at boot to automatically activate swap via `swapon -a`. A subtle behavior: if the partition is already in use (e.g., mounted), `mkswap` will fail, so the partition must be unmounted first.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: mkswap /dev/sdb1; swapon /dev/sdb1; echo '/dev/sdb1 swap swap defaults 0 0' >> /etc/fstab — Option C is correct because it follows the proper sequence to prepare and activate a swap partition on /dev/sdb1. First, `mkswap` initializes the partition as a swap area by writing a swap signature. Then `swapon` activates it immediately. Finally, adding an entry to /etc/fstab ensures the swap is automatically enabled at boot, making it persistent across reboots.
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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