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 TWO commands can be used to create a physical volume for LVM? (Choose exactly two.)
mkfs.ext4
Why wrong: Creates a filesystem, not a PV.
pvcreate /dev/sdb1
Creates a PV on a partition.
pvcreate /dev/sdb
Creates a PV on the whole disk.
lvcreate
Why wrong: Creates a logical volume, not a PV.
vgcreate
Why wrong: Creates a volume group, not a PV.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
pvcreate /dev/sdb1
The `pvcreate` command initializes a block device (such as a partition or an entire disk) for use as a physical volume in LVM. Option B targets a partition `/dev/sdb1`, and option C targets the whole disk `/dev/sdb` — both are valid devices that can be initialized as physical volumes, as LVM can operate on either.
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.
mkfs.ext4
Why it's wrong here
Creates a filesystem, not a PV.
pvcreate /dev/sdb1
Why this is correct
Creates a PV on a partition.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
pvcreate /dev/sdb
Why this is correct
Creates a PV on the whole disk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
lvcreate
Why it's wrong here
Creates a logical volume, not a PV.
vgcreate
Why it's wrong here
Creates a volume group, not a PV.
Common exam traps
Red Hat often tests the distinction between initializing a partition (`/dev/sdb1`) versus a whole disk (`/dev/sdb`) — both are valid with `pvcreate`, but candidates may incorrectly think only partitions can be used, or that `mkfs.ext4` can somehow create an LVM physical volume.
Detailed technical explanation
When `pvcreate` is run, it writes LVM metadata (including a label and a list of physical extents) to the first few sectors of the device, typically in the second 512-byte sector (sector 1) for the LVM label. This metadata allows LVM to track which physical extents belong to which volume group. A common real-world scenario is initializing a whole disk (e.g., `/dev/sdb`) when you want to use the entire disk without partitioning, but be aware that mixing LVM on a whole disk with other partitioning schemes can cause confusion if the disk is later repurposed.
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: pvcreate /dev/sdb1 — The `pvcreate` command initializes a block device (such as a partition or an entire disk) for use as a physical volume in LVM. Option B targets a partition `/dev/sdb1`, and option C targets the whole disk `/dev/sdb` — both are valid devices that can be initialized as physical volumes, as LVM can operate on either.
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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