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.
Which of the following is true regarding shrinking logical volumes?
You can reduce a volume while it is mounted if you use resize2fs
Why wrong: resize2fs for shrinking requires the filesystem to be unmounted.
XFS filesystems cannot be shrunk
XFS can only be grown, not shrunk.
Reducing an LVM volume is a simple process
Why wrong: Shrinking involves filesystem and volume steps and is risky.
Ext4 filesystems support online shrinking
Why wrong: Ext4 does not support online shrinking; it must be unmounted.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
XFS filesystems cannot be shrunk
B is correct because XFS filesystems do not support shrinking. The XFS design is based on allocation groups and a log-structured metadata layout that makes online or offline shrinking infeasible without significant filesystem restructuring. This is a fundamental limitation of XFS, unlike ext4 which can be shrunk offline.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
You can reduce a volume while it is mounted if you use resize2fs
Why it's wrong here
resize2fs for shrinking requires the filesystem to be unmounted.
XFS filesystems cannot be shrunk
Why this is correct
XFS can only be grown, not shrunk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Reducing an LVM volume is a simple process
Why it's wrong here
Shrinking involves filesystem and volume steps and is risky.
Ext4 filesystems support online shrinking
Why it's wrong here
Ext4 does not support online shrinking; it must be unmounted.
Common exam traps
Red Hat often tests the misconception that all filesystems can be shrunk similarly, but the trap here is that XFS is fundamentally unshrinkable, and candidates confuse online resizing (which XFS supports for growth) with shrinking.
Detailed technical explanation
XFS uses a B+ tree structure for metadata and allocation groups that are designed for scalability and parallel I/O, but this architecture prevents shrinking because the filesystem cannot reclaim space from the middle of an allocation group without complex relocation. In contrast, ext4 uses block groups and can be shrunk offline by moving blocks to the beginning of the partition. A real-world scenario: if you need to reduce a filesystem on a root volume, XFS forces you to back up, recreate, and restore, while ext4 allows an offline shrink with resize2fs.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Configure local storage — This question tests Configure local storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: XFS filesystems cannot be shrunk — B is correct because XFS filesystems do not support shrinking. The XFS design is based on allocation groups and a log-structured metadata layout that makes online or offline shrinking infeasible without significant filesystem restructuring. This is a fundamental limitation of XFS, unlike ext4 which can be shrunk offline.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This EX200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Red Hat certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the EX200 exam.
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