- A
The directory lacks the setgid bit; set it with 'chmod g+s /var/backups'.
Why wrong: The setgid bit ensures new files inherit the group, but it is not required for the user to create files.
- B
The user needs to log out and log back in to refresh their group membership.
The user was added to the group after their current session started; the new group is not active until a new login occurs.
- C
The user's umask is too restrictive, preventing file creation. Change the umask to 002.
Why wrong: umask affects default file permissions but does not prevent the user from creating files if they have write permission.
- D
The user should use 'newgrp backup' to switch to the backup group temporarily.
Why wrong: While newgrp can change group, the underlying issue is that the group membership is not active in the current session. A new login is more appropriate.
EX200 Manage users and groups Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. 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.
You are managing a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 server that hosts backup scripts. A user named 'backup' (UID 1005) is a member of the 'backup' group. The directory /var/backups is owned by root:backup with permissions 775. The 'backup' user needs to create files in this directory. However, when the user attempts to create a file, they receive 'Permission denied'. You verify that 'backup' is indeed listed in the backup group in /etc/group. The user's current shell was started after their last login. Which of the following is the most likely cause and solution?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The user needs to log out and log back in to refresh their group membership.
The user 'backup' is already a member of the 'backup' group in /etc/group, but the current shell session was started before the group membership was added or refreshed. On Linux, group membership is determined at login time by the PAM modules; simply adding a user to a group does not affect already running processes. The user must log out and log back in (or start a new login shell) to acquire the new group membership via the initgroups() system call, which populates the process's supplementary group list.
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.
- ✗
The directory lacks the setgid bit; set it with 'chmod g+s /var/backups'.
Why it's wrong here
The setgid bit ensures new files inherit the group, but it is not required for the user to create files.
- ✓
The user needs to log out and log back in to refresh their group membership.
Why this is correct
The user was added to the group after their current session started; the new group is not active until a new login occurs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The user's umask is too restrictive, preventing file creation. Change the umask to 002.
Why it's wrong here
umask affects default file permissions but does not prevent the user from creating files if they have write permission.
- ✗
The user should use 'newgrp backup' to switch to the backup group temporarily.
Why it's wrong here
While newgrp can change group, the underlying issue is that the group membership is not active in the current session. A new login is more appropriate.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think the setgid bit or umask is the issue, but the real problem is that group membership changes do not apply to existing login sessions—a fundamental Linux behavior that Red Hat EX200 frequently tests.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a user logs in, the login process (e.g., sshd, login) calls initgroups() to populate the process's supplementary group list from /etc/group. This list is inherited by child processes (like the shell) and cannot be changed without re-authentication. The 'id' command shows the current effective group IDs; if 'backup' is not listed in the groups field, the process does not have that group membership. A common real-world scenario is adding a user to the 'wheel' group for sudo access; the user must log out and back in for the change to take effect.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Manage users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user needs to log out and log back in to refresh their group membership. — The user 'backup' is already a member of the 'backup' group in /etc/group, but the current shell session was started before the group membership was added or refreshed. On Linux, group membership is determined at login time by the PAM modules; simply adding a user to a group does not affect already running processes. The user must log out and log back in (or start a new login shell) to acquire the new group membership via the initgroups() system call, which populates the process's supplementary group list.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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