220-1102 - Operating Systems (31% of the exam) - Section 1.8

Explain common OS types and their purposes.

Compare common workstation operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS, Chrome OS) and cell phone and tablet operating systems (iPadOS, iOS, Android) and explain the purpose of each. Distinguish the common file system types - NTFS, FAT32, ext3, ext4, APFS, and exFAT - and account for vendor life-cycle limitations such as end-of-life (EOL) and update limitations along with compatibility concerns between OSs.

Workstation OSsCell phone/tablet OSsFile systemsEnd-of-life (EOL)Compatibility between OSs

Practice question for this objective

Free sampleOperating Systemsmedium

A technician is formatting a new internal drive that will store data exclusively on a Linux file server and wants a modern journaling file system that is native to Linux. Which file system should be selected?

  • ANTFS, the native Windows file system, which Linux can read but does not use as its own default.
  • BexFAT, a non-journaling file system intended mainly for removable flash media rather than servers.
  • Cext4, the modern journaling file system native to Linux and standard for its data volumes. Correct
  • DHFS+, an Apple file system used by older macOS versions rather than by Linux servers.
Select ext4 as the modern native journaling file system for Linux data volumes, distinguishing it from Windows and macOS file systems. Each OS family has a native file system; ext4 is the standard modern journaling file system for Linux, whereas NTFS is native to Windows, HFS+ to older macOS and exFAT is a non-journaling format for removable media.

Why A is wrong: Linux can access NTFS volumes, which makes it a plausible pick, but NTFS is the native Windows file system rather than the native journaling choice for a Linux server.

Why B is wrong: exFAT is broadly compatible, which tempts, but it lacks journaling and targets removable flash media, making it unsuitable for a server data volume.

Why C is correct: ext4 is the widely used modern journaling file system built for Linux, so it is the natural native choice for a Linux server data drive.

Why D is wrong: HFS+ is a real journaling file system, which is the hook, but it belongs to older macOS rather than being native to Linux.

See more 220-1102 practice questions, answers explained.

Exam traps in Operating Systems

Answers that look right on this material and are not. Each one is a distractor from a different question in the 220-1102 bank for this domain.

  • NTFS, the journaling file system Microsoft designed for Windows workstations and servers.

    Why it is wrong: NTFS is tempting because it is the dominant desktop journaling file system, but it is the Windows default; macOS can only read NTFS volumes natively, not format its system disk with them.

  • NTFS, which both Windows and macOS mount with full read and write support by default.

    Why it is wrong: NTFS handles large files well, but macOS mounts NTFS as read-only by default, so it fails the native read/write-on-both requirement.

  • NTFS

    Why it is wrong: Tempting because it removes the 4 GB limit, but macOS mounts NTFS as read-only by default without third-party drivers, so it is not natively writable there.

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