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SDLC Automation →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

CloudFormation UserData Script Failure Due to AMI Mismatch

This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of sdlc automation. 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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

Resources:
  MyEC2Instance:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Instance
    Properties:
      ImageId: ami-0abcdef1234567890
      InstanceType: t2.micro
      UserData:
        Fn::Base64: !Sub |
          #!/bin/bash
          yum install -y httpd
          systemctl start httpd
          systemctl enable httpd
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: MyInstance

Refer to the exhibit. A DevOps engineer deploys this CloudFormation template. The EC2 instance launches, but the httpd service does not start. The engineer connects to the instance and finds that the user data script did not run. What is the most likely cause?

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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

Resources:
  MyEC2Instance:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Instance
    Properties:
      ImageId: ami-0abcdef1234567890
      InstanceType: t2.micro
      UserData:
        Fn::Base64: !Sub |
          #!/bin/bash
          yum install -y httpd
          systemctl start httpd
          systemctl enable httpd
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: MyInstance

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 AMI does not have yum installed

The most likely cause is that the AMI does not have yum installed. The CloudFormation template's UserData script uses yum to install httpd, but if the AMI is based on a distribution that does not use yum (e.g., Amazon Linux 2023 uses dnf, or Ubuntu uses apt), the script will fail silently or not execute as intended. Since the script itself is valid and the instance launched, the failure is due to the package manager not being available, preventing the httpd service from starting.

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 UserData is not base64 encoded correctly

    Why it's wrong here

    UserData in CloudFormation can be plain text; CloudFormation handles encoding automatically. The script not running is unlikely due to encoding issues.

  • ✓

    The AMI does not have yum installed

    Why this is correct

    This is correct because the AMI might be based on a distribution that uses a different package manager (e.g., dnf in Amazon Linux 2023 or apt in Ubuntu), causing the yum command to fail.

    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 tags prevent user data from executing

    Why it's wrong here

    Tags do not affect the execution of UserData scripts.

  • ✗

    The AMI uses a different init system than systemd

    Why it's wrong here

    While init systems vary, the failure is specifically due to the package manager not being available, not the init system.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often assume the issue is with base64 encoding or the init system, but the real problem is a mismatch between the package manager used in the UserData script and the one available on the AMI.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

CloudFormation automatically base64 encodes UserData when provided as a string, so manual encoding is unnecessary. The user data script is executed by cloud-init, which runs early in the boot process and is distribution-agnostic. However, if the script references a package manager like yum that is not present on the AMI (e.g., Amazon Linux 2023 uses dnf, Ubuntu uses apt), the script will fail at that command, and subsequent commands (like starting httpd) will not run. This is a common pitfall when using generic scripts across different AMI families.

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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.

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 DOP-C02 question test?

SDLC Automation — This question tests SDLC Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The AMI does not have yum installed — The most likely cause is that the AMI does not have yum installed. The CloudFormation template's UserData script uses yum to install httpd, but if the AMI is based on a distribution that does not use yum (e.g., Amazon Linux 2023 uses dnf, or Ubuntu uses apt), the script will fail silently or not execute as intended. Since the script itself is valid and the instance launched, the failure is due to the package manager not being available, preventing the httpd service from starting.

What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 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: Jul 4, 2026

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This DOP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services 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 DOP-C02 exam.