- A
Clone the stack and assign the updated cookbook to the new stack.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Cloning creates a new stack; it does not update existing instances.
- B
Use the 'Execute Recipes' feature to run the updated custom recipe on the instances.
Correct. 'Execute Recipes' runs the specified recipe on selected instances, applying the changes.
- C
Update the layer's custom cookbook settings and then reboot the instances.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Rebooting does not run the updated cookbook; OpsWorks does not automatically trigger a run.
- D
Update the stack's custom cookbook source and click 'Update Dependencies' on the stack.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Updating the source and dependencies does not automatically run recipes on existing instances.
Question 1,240 of 1,750
How to Run Updated Custom Cookbook Recipes on Existing AWS OpsWorks Instances
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of configuration management and iac. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A DevOps team uses AWS OpsWorks for configuration management. They have a stack with a custom cookbook that installs and configures an application. After updating the cookbook on GitHub, they need to apply the changes to existing instances without creating new ones. What should the team do?
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
✓
Use the 'Execute Recipes' feature to run the updated custom recipe on the instances.
Option B is correct because AWS OpsWorks provides the 'Execute Recipes' feature, which allows you to run a specific recipe from a cookbook on existing instances without requiring a stack update or instance replacement. This is the direct method to apply changes from an updated custom cookbook to running instances, as it triggers Chef to execute the specified recipe immediately on the selected instances.
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.
- ✗
Clone the stack and assign the updated cookbook to the new stack.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Cloning creates a new stack; it does not update existing instances.
- ✓
Use the 'Execute Recipes' feature to run the updated custom recipe on the instances.
Why this is correct
Correct. 'Execute Recipes' runs the specified recipe on selected instances, applying the changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Update the layer's custom cookbook settings and then reboot the instances.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Rebooting does not run the updated cookbook; OpsWorks does not automatically trigger a run.
- ✗
Update the stack's custom cookbook source and click 'Update Dependencies' on the stack.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Updating the source and dependencies does not automatically run recipes on existing instances.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse updating the cookbook source (which only stages the new code) with actually executing the recipes, leading them to choose Option D, which does not apply the changes to running instances.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, OpsWorks uses Chef Solo (or Chef Client in newer setups) to run recipes. The 'Execute Recipes' feature triggers a Chef run on the selected instances, pulling the latest cookbook from the configured source (e.g., GitHub) and executing the specified recipe. This is analogous to running `chef-client` with a specific run-list, allowing targeted application of changes without affecting the entire stack lifecycle. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for hotfixes or configuration updates where instance replacement is undesirable.
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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Configuration Management and IaC — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Configuration Management and IaC — This question tests Configuration Management and IaC — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the 'Execute Recipes' feature to run the updated custom recipe on the instances. — Option B is correct because AWS OpsWorks provides the 'Execute Recipes' feature, which allows you to run a specific recipe from a cookbook on existing instances without requiring a stack update or instance replacement. This is the direct method to apply changes from an updated custom cookbook to running instances, as it triggers Chef to execute the specified recipe immediately on the selected instances.
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.
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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