This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of create and configure file systems. 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 TWO commands are needed to set up a swap partition on /dev/sdd1 for immediate use?
swapon /dev/sdd1
Correct: Activates the swap partition.
parted /dev/sdd mkswap
Why wrong: Incorrect: parted does not have a mkswap subcommand.
mkswap /dev/sdd1
Correct: Prepares the partition as swap.
swapon -a
Why wrong: Incorrect: swapon -a enables all swaps in /etc/fstab, but the partition has not been prepared with mkswap.
mkfs.swap /dev/sdd1
Why wrong: Incorrect: No mkfs.swap command exists.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
swapon /dev/sdd1
Option A is correct because the `swapon /dev/sdd1` command activates the swap partition immediately, making it available for the kernel to use as virtual memory. Option C is correct because `mkswap /dev/sdd1` writes the swap signature (UUID and swap superblock) to the partition, which is a prerequisite for any swap device to be recognized by the kernel. Together, these two commands first prepare the partition as a swap area and then enable it for immediate use.
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.
swapon /dev/sdd1
Why this is correct
Correct: Activates the swap partition.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
parted /dev/sdd mkswap
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: parted does not have a mkswap subcommand.
mkswap /dev/sdd1
Why this is correct
Correct: Prepares the partition as swap.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
swapon -a
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: swapon -a enables all swaps in /etc/fstab, but the partition has not been prepared with mkswap.
mkfs.swap /dev/sdd1
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: No mkfs.swap command exists.
Common exam traps
Red Hat often tests the distinction between preparing a swap device (`mkswap`) and activating it (`swapon`), and the trap here is that candidates might think `swapon -a` or a single command like `mkfs.swap` is sufficient, when in fact both steps are required and the correct command names are specific.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect: parted does not have a mkswap subcommand.
Detailed technical explanation
The `mkswap` command writes a swap superblock at the beginning of the partition, which includes a UUID and a signature that the kernel recognizes during `swapon`. The `swapon` command then reads this superblock and adds the partition to the kernel's swap management structures, allowing pages to be swapped out to it. In a real-world scenario, you might need to set up a swap partition on a newly added disk without rebooting, and these two commands achieve that without modifying `/etc/fstab` for temporary use.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
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FAQ
Create and configure file systems — This question tests Create and configure file systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: swapon /dev/sdd1 — Option A is correct because the `swapon /dev/sdd1` command activates the swap partition immediately, making it available for the kernel to use as virtual memory. Option C is correct because `mkswap /dev/sdd1` writes the swap signature (UUID and swap superblock) to the partition, which is a prerequisite for any swap device to be recognized by the kernel. Together, these two commands first prepare the partition as a swap area and then enable it for immediate use.
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
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