This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of configure local storage. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
To ensure that a filesystem is mounted automatically at boot and that only root can write to it, which mount options should be used in /etc/fstab? (Assume the filesystem permissions are appropriately set.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
defaults
Option C is correct because the 'defaults' mount option in /etc/fstab implies rw, suid, dev, exec, auto, nouser, and async. This ensures the filesystem is mounted automatically at boot (via the 'auto' sub-option) and, critically, only root can write to it (because 'nouser' prevents non-root users from mounting or writing, and the default permissions allow root write access). The question states that filesystem permissions are appropriately set, so 'defaults' satisfies both requirements without additional options.
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.
✗
ro,noauto
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'ro' makes it read-only for all users, and 'noauto' prevents automatic mount at boot.
✗
noexec,nodev,nosuid
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. These options restrict execution, device files, and setuid, but do not restrict write access to root.
✓
defaults
Why this is correct
Correct. 'defaults' includes 'nouser' (only root can mount) and 'rw' (read-write). Actual write access is then controlled by filesystem permissions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
rw,suid,dev,exec
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This is similar to defaults but missing 'nouser', allowing any user to mount if they have the device.
✗
auto,root
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'root' is not a valid mount option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think 'defaults' is too generic or insufficient, and they overcomplicate by adding explicit options like 'rw' or 'auto', not realizing that 'defaults' already includes both 'auto' (for boot mounting) and 'nouser' (to restrict write access to root), making it the correct single-option answer.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
Incorrect. This is similar to defaults but missing 'nouser', allowing any user to mount if they have the device.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'defaults' option in /etc/fstab expands to rw, suid, dev, exec, auto, nouser, and async. The 'nouser' sub-option is key: it means only root can mount and write to the filesystem, while 'auto' ensures the filesystem is mounted at boot via systemd or the init system. In practice, if a filesystem is mounted with 'defaults' but permissions are misconfigured (e.g., world-writable), root can still write, but the 'nouser' flag prevents non-root users from mounting or unmounting the filesystem, reinforcing root-only write control.
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: defaults — Option C is correct because the 'defaults' mount option in /etc/fstab implies rw, suid, dev, exec, auto, nouser, and async. This ensures the filesystem is mounted automatically at boot (via the 'auto' sub-option) and, critically, only root can write to it (because 'nouser' prevents non-root users from mounting or writing, and the default permissions allow root write access). The question states that filesystem permissions are appropriately set, so 'defaults' satisfies both requirements without additional options.
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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Question Discussion
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