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
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 20G 0 disk
├─sda1 8:1 0 500M 0 part /boot
├─sda2 8:2 0 2G 0 part [SWAP]
├─sda3 8:3 0 10G 0 part /
└─sda4 8:4 0 7.5G 0 part /home
sdb 8:16 0 10G 0 disk
└─sdb1 8:17 0 10G 0 part
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator runs lsblk and sees the above output. The administrator wants to mount /dev/sdb1 at /mnt/data. What should be done 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
✓
Create the directory /mnt/data and then run mount
Before mounting a filesystem, the mount point directory must exist. Option A correctly instructs to create /mnt/data with mkdir -p /mnt/data and then run mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data. Without the directory, the mount command will fail with a 'mount point does not exist' error.
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.
✓
Create the directory /mnt/data and then run mount
Why this is correct
Correct. The mount point must exist before mounting.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Run mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The mount point does not exist; mount will fail.
✗
Run partprobe to detect the partition
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The partition is already detected; partprobe is for notifying kernel of changes.
✗
Run mkfs.xfs /dev/sdb1
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The partition may already have a filesystem; formatting is not the first step.
✗
Edit /etc/fstab and add an entry
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Editing fstab is for automatic mounting, not immediate mount.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the prerequisite of creating the mount point directory, tricking candidates who assume mount will create it automatically or who jump to formatting or fstab editing without verifying the directory exists.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The mount system call requires a valid pathname for the target directory; the kernel does not create directories automatically. In Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the /mnt directory exists by default, but subdirectories like /mnt/data must be created manually. The mount command uses the directory's inode as the attachment point for the filesystem's root, so the directory must exist and be empty (or at least not cause conflicts).
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: Create the directory /mnt/data and then run mount — Before mounting a filesystem, the mount point directory must exist. Option A correctly instructs to create /mnt/data with mkdir -p /mnt/data and then run mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data. Without the directory, the mount command will fail with a 'mount point does not exist' error.
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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