This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of essential tools. 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.
During boot, a server fails to mount an NFS filesystem listed in /etc/fstab. Which troubleshooting step should be taken first to isolate the issue?
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
✓
Check the status of remote-fs.target with 'systemctl status remote-fs.target'
Option A is correct because when an NFS filesystem fails to mount during boot, the first step is to check whether the remote-fs.target unit is active. This target is responsible for triggering the mounting of all remote filesystems (including NFS) after the network is available. If remote-fs.target is not active or has failed, the NFS mount will not be attempted, and troubleshooting should start here before investigating the NFS share itself.
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.
✓
Check the status of remote-fs.target with 'systemctl status remote-fs.target'
Why this is correct
remote-fs.target is responsible for mounting remote filesystems at boot.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Check the status of nfs-client.target with 'systemctl status nfs-client.target'
Why it's wrong here
nfs-client.target is not a standard target; the correct target is remote-fs.target.
✗
Try to manually mount the NFS share with 'mount /mnt/nfs'
Why it's wrong here
That would test the network, but the target status indicates if systemd attempted it.
✗
View kernel messages with 'dmesg | grep -i nfs'
Why it's wrong here
That might show errors, but the first step should be to check the target.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the misconception that NFS client services (nfs-client.target) are responsible for mounting NFS filesystems, when in fact the mounting is orchestrated by remote-fs.target, and troubleshooting should start there.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
That might show errors, but the first step should be to check the target.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under systemd, remote-fs.target is a synchronization point that all remote filesystem mount units (e.g., .mount units for NFS, CIFS) are ordered after. During boot, systemd ensures that network-online.target is reached before remote-fs.target, and if the network is not ready or the NFS server is unreachable, the mount unit may fail and cause remote-fs.target to enter a failed state. Checking 'systemctl status remote-fs.target' immediately shows whether the target itself is active or has failed dependencies, which is the most efficient first diagnostic step.
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.
Essential Tools — This question tests Essential Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Check the status of remote-fs.target with 'systemctl status remote-fs.target' — Option A is correct because when an NFS filesystem fails to mount during boot, the first step is to check whether the remote-fs.target unit is active. This target is responsible for triggering the mounting of all remote filesystems (including NFS) after the network is available. If remote-fs.target is not active or has failed, the NFS mount will not be attempted, and troubleshooting should start here before investigating the NFS share itself.
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.
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Question Discussion
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