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 wants to mount an existing ext4 filesystem from /dev/sdb1 to /mnt/data at boot time. What entry should be added to /etc/fstab?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
/dev/sdb1 /mnt/data ext4 defaults 0 0
Option D is correct because it specifies the correct device (/dev/sdb1), the correct mount point (/mnt/data), the correct filesystem type (ext4), and the correct mount options (defaults) for an ext4 filesystem to be mounted at boot. The /etc/fstab entry must include all six fields in order: device, mount point, filesystem type, options, dump, and pass.
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.
✗
/dev/sdb1 /mnt/data xfs defaults 0 0
Why it's wrong here
Filesystem is ext4, not xfs; using wrong type will cause mount to fail.
✗
LABEL=data ext4 defaults 0 0
Why it's wrong here
LABEL syntax requires the LABEL reference, but the mount point is missing; also /dev/sdb1 does not have a label set.
✗
/dev/sdb1 /data ext4 defaults 0 0
Why it's wrong here
Mount point /data is not what was requested; the request was /mnt/data.
✓
/dev/sdb1 /mnt/data ext4 defaults 0 0
Why this is correct
This is a valid fstab entry with device, mount point, filesystem type, and default options.
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 confuse the filesystem type (ext4 vs xfs) or misremember the required mount point path (/mnt/data vs /data), leading them to select an option that looks correct but has a subtle mismatch.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The /etc/fstab file is read by the mount command and systemd at boot time to automatically mount filesystems. Each entry must have exactly six fields separated by whitespace: device specifier (e.g., /dev/sdb1, UUID, or LABEL), mount point, filesystem type, mount options (defaults implies rw, suid, dev, exec, auto, nouser, async), dump frequency (0 disables), and fsck pass order (0 disables). Using a UUID or LABEL instead of a device name is more robust because device names can change across reboots.
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: /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data ext4 defaults 0 0 — Option D is correct because it specifies the correct device (/dev/sdb1), the correct mount point (/mnt/data), the correct filesystem type (ext4), and the correct mount options (defaults) for an ext4 filesystem to be mounted at boot. The /etc/fstab entry must include all six fields in order: device, mount point, filesystem type, options, dump, and pass.
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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