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
Refer to the exhibit.
# mount | grep /dev/sdc1
/dev/sdc1 on /mnt/backup type ext4 (rw,noexec,nosuid)
# cat /etc/fstab | grep sdc1
UUID=12345678-9abc-def0-1234-56789abcdef0 /mnt/backup ext4 defaults 0 0
# df -h /mnt/backup
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sdc1 100G 50G 50G 50% /mnt/backup
An administrator needs to mount the backup filesystem with the ‘exec’ option temporarily for a one-time script. Which command will remount the filesystem with exec without unmounting?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
# mount | grep /dev/sdc1
/dev/sdc1 on /mnt/backup type ext4 (rw,noexec,nosuid)
# cat /etc/fstab | grep sdc1
UUID=12345678-9abc-def0-1234-56789abcdef0 /mnt/backup ext4 defaults 0 0
# df -h /mnt/backup
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sdc1 100G 50G 50G 50% /mnt/backup
A
umount /mnt/backup && mount /mnt/backup
Why wrong: This would unmount and mount again using fstab defaults, which do not include exec; the filesystem would still have noexec.
B
mount -o exec,remount /dev/sdc1 /mnt/backup
Why wrong: Option B is incorrect because it specifies both the device and mount point; the `remount` option only requires one path (either the device or mount point) to remount the filesystem. While the order of options (exec,remount) is valid, including both the device and mount point is unnecessary and can cause the command to fail if the device path is not exactly correct.
C
mount -o remount,exec /mnt/backup
This remounts the already mounted filesystem with the exec option added.
D
mount -a -o exec
Why wrong: mount -a mounts all filesystems in fstab; it does not remount already mounted filesystems with new options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
mount -o remount,exec /mnt/backup
Option C is correct because the `mount -o remount,exec /mnt/backup` command changes the mount options of an already-mounted filesystem without unmounting it. The `remount` option applies the specified mount options (in this case, `exec`) to the existing mount point, and the filesystem path (device or mount point) is sufficient for the kernel to identify and modify the mount. This is the standard method for altering mount options on a live filesystem in Linux.
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.
✗
umount /mnt/backup && mount /mnt/backup
Why it's wrong here
This would unmount and mount again using fstab defaults, which do not include exec; the filesystem would still have noexec.
✗
mount -o exec,remount /dev/sdc1 /mnt/backup
Why it's wrong here
Option B is incorrect because it specifies both the device and mount point; the `remount` option only requires one path (either the device or mount point) to remount the filesystem. While the order of options (exec,remount) is valid, including both the device and mount point is unnecessary and can cause the command to fail if the device path is not exactly correct.
✓
mount -o remount,exec /mnt/backup
Why this is correct
This remounts the already mounted filesystem with the exec option added.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
mount -a -o exec
Why it's wrong here
mount -a mounts all filesystems in fstab; it does not remount already mounted filesystems with new options.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think they must specify both the device and mount point (as in Option B) for a remount, but the `remount` option only requires one identifier (the mount point or device) to locate the mount, and including both can cause a syntax error or be ignored.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Option B is incorrect because it specifies both the device and mount point; the `remount` option only requires one path (either the device or mount point) to remount the filesystem. While the order of options (exec,remount) is valid, including both the device and mount point is unnecessary and can cause the command to fail if the device path is not exactly correct.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `remount` option in the `mount` command works by calling the `mount()` system call with the `MS_REMOUNT` flag, which modifies the mount flags and options of an existing mount entry in the kernel's mount table without requiring a full unmount/mount cycle. This is particularly useful for enabling or disabling execution of binaries (via `exec`/`noexec`) on filesystems like `/tmp` or backup volumes where security policies may need to be temporarily relaxed for a script. A subtle behavior is that when using `remount`, you must include all desired mount options (e.g., `rw` if the filesystem is read-write) because the kernel replaces the entire option set with the provided ones, not just the specified option.
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: mount -o remount,exec /mnt/backup — Option C is correct because the `mount -o remount,exec /mnt/backup` command changes the mount options of an already-mounted filesystem without unmounting it. The `remount` option applies the specified mount options (in this case, `exec`) to the existing mount point, and the filesystem path (device or mount point) is sufficient for the kernel to identify and modify the mount. This is the standard method for altering mount options on a live filesystem in Linux.
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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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