The correct procedure is to use fdisk to delete and recreate the partition with a larger size, run partprobe, then xfs_growfs /mnt/data. This is necessary because XFS filesystems can only be grown, never shrunk, and the scenario provides no unpartitioned space on /dev/sdb, meaning the existing partition itself must be resized to add the 5GB. On the Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 exam, this question tests your understanding of XFS’s immutable on-disk structure and the required workflow for online growth: repartition, rescan, then grow. A common trap is attempting to use resize2fs or forgetting partprobe, which leaves the kernel unaware of the new partition size. Remember the three-step mantra: delete and recreate, probe, then grow—and never try to shrink XFS.
EX200 Deploy, configure, and maintain systems Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of deploy, configure, and maintain 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
# lsblk
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 20G 0 disk
├─sda1 8:1 0 1G 0 part /boot
├─sda2 8:2 0 2G 0 part [SWAP]
└─sda3 8:3 0 17G 0 part /
sdb 8:16 0 10G 0 disk
└─sdb1 8:17 0 10G 0 part /mnt/data
# df -h /mnt/data
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sdb1 9.8G 7.5G 2.3G 77% /mnt/data
Refer to the exhibit. The administrator wants to add an additional 5GB to the /mnt/data filesystem. There is no unpartitioned space on /dev/sdb. Which is the correct procedure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use fdisk to delete and recreate /dev/sdb1 with larger size, run partprobe, then xfs_growfs /mnt/data.
Option C is correct because the filesystem on /mnt/data is XFS (as shown in the exhibit), and XFS cannot be shrunk; it can only be grown. Since there is no unpartitioned space on /dev/sdb, the partition itself must be resized. The correct procedure is to delete and recreate the partition with a larger size using fdisk, inform the kernel of the change with partprobe, and then grow the XFS filesystem with xfs_growfs /mnt/data.
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.
✗
Use resize2fs /dev/sdb1 to expand filesystem.
Why it's wrong here
resize2fs is for ext2/3/4, not XFS.
✗
Add a new disk, create a physical volume, extend volume group, and extend logical volume.
Why it's wrong here
No LVM is used here; /dev/sdb1 is a plain partition.
✓
Use fdisk to delete and recreate /dev/sdb1 with larger size, run partprobe, then xfs_growfs /mnt/data.
Why this is correct
Correct steps for XFS on a partition.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use fdisk to delete and recreate /dev/sdb1 with larger size, then mount.
Why it's wrong here
Mounting does not grow filesystem; need xfs_growfs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the distinction between XFS and ext4 filesystem resizing commands; the trap here is that candidates familiar with ext4 might incorrectly choose resize2fs (Option A) or forget that XFS requires xfs_growfs after partition resizing, leading them to select Option D without the grow step.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
XFS filesystems support online growth via xfs_growfs, which expands the filesystem to fill the available space in the underlying block device. The partprobe command is essential after modifying the partition table to avoid a reboot; it re-reads the partition table from the disk and updates the kernel's in-memory representation. In a real-world scenario, if the partition is the root filesystem, you would need to boot from a rescue environment to unmount it before repartitioning, but here /mnt/data is a mount point that can be unmounted safely.
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.
Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — This question tests Deploy, configure, and maintain systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use fdisk to delete and recreate /dev/sdb1 with larger size, run partprobe, then xfs_growfs /mnt/data. — Option C is correct because the filesystem on /mnt/data is XFS (as shown in the exhibit), and XFS cannot be shrunk; it can only be grown. Since there is no unpartitioned space on /dev/sdb, the partition itself must be resized. The correct procedure is to delete and recreate the partition with a larger size using fdisk, inform the kernel of the change with partprobe, and then grow the XFS filesystem with xfs_growfs /mnt/data.
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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