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
# lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,TYPE,MOUNTPOINT
NAME SIZE TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 20G disk
├─sda1 500M part /boot
├─sda2 2G part [SWAP]
└─sda3 17.5G part /
sdb 10G disk
sdc 10G disk
# parted /dev/sdb print
Model: ATA VBOX HARDDISK (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 10.7GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
# parted /dev/sdc print
Error: /dev/sdc: unrecognised disk label
# fdisk -l /dev/sdc
Disk /dev/sdc: 10 GiB, 10737418240 bytes, 20971520 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x00000000
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdc1 2048 20971519 20969472 10G 83 Linux
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator wants to create a RAID 1 array using /dev/sdb and /dev/sdc. Which of the following is true?
Exhibit
# lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,TYPE,MOUNTPOINT
NAME SIZE TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 20G disk
├─sda1 500M part /boot
├─sda2 2G part [SWAP]
└─sda3 17.5G part /
sdb 10G disk
sdc 10G disk
# parted /dev/sdb print
Model: ATA VBOX HARDDISK (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 10.7GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
# parted /dev/sdc print
Error: /dev/sdc: unrecognised disk label
# fdisk -l /dev/sdc
Disk /dev/sdc: 10 GiB, 10737418240 bytes, 20971520 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x00000000
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdc1 2048 20971519 20969472 10G 83 Linux
A
Both disks have a valid partition table and can be used directly for RAID.
Why wrong: /dev/sdc has a DOS partition table with a partition, but /dev/sdb has no partition table (GPT but no partitions). For RAID, whole disks can be used without partitions, but the partition tables are not consistent.
B
/dev/sdb has no partitions and /dev/sdc has a partition; the administrator must remove the partition on /dev/sdc before creating RAID.
Why wrong: While it is possible to use a partition for RAID, for a whole disk RAID it is common to use the whole disk without partitions. However, it is not required to remove the partition; the partition can be used as a RAID member. But the question asks which is true. Option B is not necessarily true.
C
The administrator can create a RAID 1 array using the whole /dev/sdb and the partition /dev/sdc1 without any changes.
Why wrong: While technically possible, mixing a whole disk and a partition is not recommended and may cause size mismatches. The standard practice is to use partitions of equal size.
D
The administrator must create identical partition tables on both disks, such as a single Linux RAID partition, before creating the RAID array.
For mdadm RAID, it is recommended to use partitions of type 'fd' (Linux RAID autodetect) on each disk. The disks currently have different layouts; creating identical partitions ensures consistency.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The administrator must create identical partition tables on both disks, such as a single Linux RAID partition, before creating the RAID array.
RAID 1 requires the underlying devices to be identical in structure. The correct procedure is to create a Linux RAID partition (type 0xFD or 0xDA) on each disk using fdisk or parted, then use mdadm to assemble the array. Option D correctly states that identical partition tables must be created on both disks before RAID creation.
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.
✗
Both disks have a valid partition table and can be used directly for RAID.
Why it's wrong here
/dev/sdc has a DOS partition table with a partition, but /dev/sdb has no partition table (GPT but no partitions). For RAID, whole disks can be used without partitions, but the partition tables are not consistent.
✗
/dev/sdb has no partitions and /dev/sdc has a partition; the administrator must remove the partition on /dev/sdc before creating RAID.
Why it's wrong here
While it is possible to use a partition for RAID, for a whole disk RAID it is common to use the whole disk without partitions. However, it is not required to remove the partition; the partition can be used as a RAID member. But the question asks which is true. Option B is not necessarily true.
✗
The administrator can create a RAID 1 array using the whole /dev/sdb and the partition /dev/sdc1 without any changes.
Why it's wrong here
While technically possible, mixing a whole disk and a partition is not recommended and may cause size mismatches. The standard practice is to use partitions of equal size.
✓
The administrator must create identical partition tables on both disks, such as a single Linux RAID partition, before creating the RAID array.
Why this is correct
For mdadm RAID, it is recommended to use partitions of type 'fd' (Linux RAID autodetect) on each disk. The disks currently have different layouts; creating identical partitions ensures consistency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common misconception on the RHCSA exam is that you can mix a whole disk with a partition in a RAID array, or that simply removing a partition from one disk is sufficient — the trap is that both disks must have identical partition layouts (e.g., a single Linux RAID partition) to be recognized as valid RAID members.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When creating RAID with mdadm, the metadata (superblock) is written to each device, and the array expects consistent device sizes and partition types. Using a whole disk without a partition table can cause alignment problems and is not recommended; best practice is to create a single partition of type 'Linux RAID' (fd) on each disk. In real-world scenarios, using mismatched devices can lead to degraded performance or array assembly failures during reboot.
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.
Quick reference
RAID Level Comparison
RAID Level
Min Disks
Fault Tolerance
Read
Write
Usable Capacity
RAID 0
2
None
Excellent
Excellent
100%
RAID 1
2
1 disk
Good
Moderate
50%
RAID 5
3
1 disk
Good
Moderate
67–94%
RAID 6
4
2 disks
Good
Lower
50–88%
RAID 10
4
1 disk per mirror
Excellent
Good
50%
RAID is not a backup strategy — it protects against disk failure but not against accidental deletion, ransomware, or site-level events.
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: The administrator must create identical partition tables on both disks, such as a single Linux RAID partition, before creating the RAID array. — RAID 1 requires the underlying devices to be identical in structure. The correct procedure is to create a Linux RAID partition (type 0xFD or 0xDA) on each disk using fdisk or parted, then use mdadm to assemble the array. Option D correctly states that identical partition tables must be created on both disks before RAID creation.
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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