Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

Which partitioning scheme allows for a maximum partition size ranging from 2 TiB to 8 ZiB?

1. MBR

2. GPT

3. Extended

4. Dynamic

The correct answer is: GPT

The partitioning scheme that allows for a maximum partition size ranging from 2 TiB to 8 ZiB is the GUID Partition Table (GPT). GPT is part of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) standard and is designed to overcome the limitations of the older Master Boot Record (MBR) partitioning scheme. One of the key advantages of GPT is its ability to support large disk sizes and a higher number of partitions. Unlike MBR, which is limited to a maximum partition size of 2 TiB and can only support up to four primary partitions, GPT can handle much larger sizes, making it suitable for modern storage devices that exceed these limitations. The increased capacity allows for partitions to be utilized effectively in environments that require significant data storage, such as servers and high-performance computing systems. Moreover, GPT also incorporates redundancy and error-checking features, which enhance data integrity and reliability. It stores a protective MBR at the beginning of the disk and a backup GPT header at the end, ensuring that partition data is recoverable in case of corruption. Understanding the strengths of GPT is crucial for anyone involved in digital forensics, system administration, or IT, as it helps in managing and utilizing modern storage solutions effectively.