LFCS Question #699: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is A: ext2. When mkfs is executed only with a block device name and no other parameters, it creates an ext2 filesystem by default.

Submitted by noor.lb· Apr 18, 2026Storage Management

Question

Which type of filesystem is created by mkfs when it is executed with the block device name only and without any additional parameters?

When mkfs is executed only with a block device name and no other parameters, it creates an ext2 filesystem by default.

Common mistakes.

B. ext3 is a journaling filesystem and requires explicit specification with mkfs -t ext3 to be created, as it's not the default type.
C. ext4 is a newer journaling filesystem and also requires explicit specification with mkfs -t ext4 because it's not the default behavior of a generic mkfs call.
D. XFS is a completely different journaling filesystem and must be explicitly specified with mkfs -t xfs to be created, as it's not the default.
E. VFAT is a variation of the FAT filesystem, primarily for compatibility with Windows, and is not the default filesystem type created by mkfs on Linux without explicit type specification.

Concept tested. mkfs default filesystem type

Reference. https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/mkfs.8.html

#mkfs#Filesystem creation#Default filesystem type#ext2

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