EX200 Create and configure file systems Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of create and configure file systems. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 IT department runs a web server that stores user uploads on an ext4 filesystem on /dev/sdb1 mounted at /uploads. Recently, the partition has run out of space. The administrator checks with df -h and sees 100% usage. However, du -sh /uploads shows only 2GB used. The administrator suspects deleted files still held open by processes. Which command should be used to identify and resolve the issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
lsof +L1 /uploads to find deleted open files, then kill processes
Option D is correct because the discrepancy between `df -h` showing 100% usage and `du -sh /uploads` showing only 2GB indicates that deleted files are still held open by running processes. The `lsof +L1 /uploads` command lists files with a link count of zero (deleted but still open), and killing the associated processes releases the disk space. This is a classic scenario on ext4 filesystems where file descriptors prevent space reclamation until the process closes the file.
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.
✗
rm -rf /uploads/* to clean all files
Why it's wrong here
Deletes all uploaded data, not just open deleted files.
✗
fsck /dev/sdb1 to repair filesystem
Why it's wrong here
fsck does not reclaim space used by open deleted files.
✗
resize2fs /dev/sdb1 to shrink filesystem
Why it's wrong here
Shrinking requires free space; no space available.
✓
lsof +L1 /uploads to find deleted open files, then kill processes
Why this is correct
Identifies deleted files still in use; killing processes releases space.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" 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
Red Hat often tests the misconception that `rm` or filesystem repair tools can recover space from deleted-but-open files, when in fact only closing the file descriptor (by killing the process) releases the blocks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a file is deleted while a process holds it open, the inode remains allocated and the blocks are not freed until the file descriptor is closed. The `lsof +L1` command filters for files with a link count of 1 or less (deleted files have link count 0). In production, this often occurs with log files or temporary uploads where a long-running daemon (e.g., Apache, Nginx) keeps the file open, causing the filesystem to appear full despite `du` showing minimal usage.
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: lsof +L1 /uploads to find deleted open files, then kill processes — Option D is correct because the discrepancy between `df -h` showing 100% usage and `du -sh /uploads` showing only 2GB indicates that deleted files are still held open by running processes. The `lsof +L1 /uploads` command lists files with a link count of zero (deleted but still open), and killing the associated processes releases the disk space. This is a classic scenario on ext4 filesystems where file descriptors prevent space reclamation until the process closes the file.
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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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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