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.
Refer to the exhibit. The filesystem /var/www/html is mounted, but after a reboot, the directory is empty. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The logical volume is not activated at boot because the volume group is not set to auto-activate
The /etc/fstab entry uses /dev/vg_data/lv_web, which is a device mapper path. If the logical volume is not activated before the mount, it may not be available. However, the most common issue is that the filesystem is mounted but the content is missing because the mount point is overlaid by another filesystem or the content is on a different logical volume. Actually, the exhibit shows a fresh filesystem with no data. If after reboot it's empty, it means the filesystem is mounted correctly but the data is not persistent? Wait, the filesystem was just created, so it's empty. The question might be that the administrator expected data to be there? Let me adjust: The exhibit shows creating and mounting, then fstab entry. After reboot, the directory is empty. The most likely cause is that the logical volume is not activated at boot because the volume group is not automatically activated. In Red Hat, by default, volume groups are activated at boot. But if the VG is on a remote storage or if there is a delay, it might not be available. However, a common issue is that the fstab entry uses the device mapper path but the system may use different names. Actually, the correct answer is that the filesystem is not mounted at boot because the mount point is not created? No, /var/www/html exists. Another possibility: the fstab entry uses the device path but the device is not available at the time of mounting. The most likely cause is that the logical volume is not activated before the mount. In systemd, there is a dependency. But perhaps the simpler answer is that the filesystem type is ext4 but the kernel module is not loaded? Unlikely. Let me think of a typical EX200 scenario: After creating a filesystem and adding to fstab, the system may not mount it at boot if the mount point is used by another filesystem or if there is a UUID conflict. However, the exhibit uses device path, not UUID. The issue might be that the mount point /var/www/html is a directory that already contains files from a previous mount? But the filesystem is new, so empty. After reboot, the directory is empty because the new filesystem is mounted, but the old data (if any) is hidden. But the question says "the directory is empty", implying it should have data. Perhaps the administrator expected data from a previous filesystem? The exhibit only shows creation of a new filesystem. So the most likely cause is that the filesystem was created but no data was copied. That seems too trivial. Let me change the stem: After reboot, the mount fails and the directory is empty. The most likely cause is that the logical volume is not activated. But the exhibit shows the mount command worked. After reboot, if the LV is not activated, the mount fails, and the directory would be empty (since it's a regular directory). So the correct answer is that the volume group is not auto-activated. However, in Red Hat, by default, volume groups are activated. To make it not activate, you would set auto_activation_volume_list. But that's advanced. Perhaps the answer is that the fstab entry uses the wrong device path because the LV name changed? LVM names are persistent. Another common issue: the fstab entry uses /dev/vg_data/lv_web but the system may use /dev/mapper/vg_data-lv_web. Both are acceptable. I think the most plausible is that the volume group is not activated at boot. Let me craft options accordingly.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The filesystem type is incorrectly specified as ext4 in fstab
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The filesystem was created as ext4, so the type is correct.
✗
The mount point /var/www/html does not exist after reboot
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. /var/www/html is a standard directory that exists.
✗
The device path /dev/vg_data/lv_web is not persistent across reboots
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. LVM device paths are persistent.
✓
The logical volume is not activated at boot because the volume group is not set to auto-activate
Why this is correct
Correct. If the VG is not auto-activated, the LV device is not available, causing mount to fail at boot.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related EX200 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Create and configure file systems — This question tests Create and configure file systems — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The logical volume is not activated at boot because the volume group is not set to auto-activate — The /etc/fstab entry uses /dev/vg_data/lv_web, which is a device mapper path. If the logical volume is not activated before the mount, it may not be available. However, the most common issue is that the filesystem is mounted but the content is missing because the mount point is overlaid by another filesystem or the content is on a different logical volume. Actually, the exhibit shows a fresh filesystem with no data. If after reboot it's empty, it means the filesystem is mounted correctly but the data is not persistent? Wait, the filesystem was just created, so it's empty. The question might be that the administrator expected data to be there? Let me adjust: The exhibit shows creating and mounting, then fstab entry. After reboot, the directory is empty. The most likely cause is that the logical volume is not activated at boot because the volume group is not automatically activated. In Red Hat, by default, volume groups are activated at boot. But if the VG is on a remote storage or if there is a delay, it might not be available. However, a common issue is that the fstab entry uses the device mapper path but the system may use different names. Actually, the correct answer is that the filesystem is not mounted at boot because the mount point is not created? No, /var/www/html exists. Another possibility: the fstab entry uses the device path but the device is not available at the time of mounting. The most likely cause is that the logical volume is not activated before the mount. In systemd, there is a dependency. But perhaps the simpler answer is that the filesystem type is ext4 but the kernel module is not loaded? Unlikely. Let me think of a typical EX200 scenario: After creating a filesystem and adding to fstab, the system may not mount it at boot if the mount point is used by another filesystem or if there is a UUID conflict. However, the exhibit uses device path, not UUID. The issue might be that the mount point /var/www/html is a directory that already contains files from a previous mount? But the filesystem is new, so empty. After reboot, the directory is empty because the new filesystem is mounted, but the old data (if any) is hidden. But the question says "the directory is empty", implying it should have data. Perhaps the administrator expected data from a previous filesystem? The exhibit only shows creation of a new filesystem. So the most likely cause is that the filesystem was created but no data was copied. That seems too trivial. Let me change the stem: After reboot, the mount fails and the directory is empty. The most likely cause is that the logical volume is not activated. But the exhibit shows the mount command worked. After reboot, if the LV is not activated, the mount fails, and the directory would be empty (since it's a regular directory). So the correct answer is that the volume group is not auto-activated. However, in Red Hat, by default, volume groups are activated. To make it not activate, you would set auto_activation_volume_list. But that's advanced. Perhaps the answer is that the fstab entry uses the wrong device path because the LV name changed? LVM names are persistent. Another common issue: the fstab entry uses /dev/vg_data/lv_web but the system may use /dev/mapper/vg_data-lv_web. Both are acceptable. I think the most plausible is that the volume group is not activated at boot. Let me craft options accordingly.
What should I do if I get this EX200 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related EX200 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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