- A
The OpsWorks stack is configured to use 'auto-healing' which automatically terminates and replaces instances that fail to start the application.
Why wrong: Auto-healing replaces instances after failure, but the issue is that the recipe succeeded but the app didn't start.
- B
The Chef server in production is running a different version of Chef than the test environment, causing the recipe to behave differently.
Why wrong: Chef versions are compatible within minor versions; differences would cause syntax errors, not silent failures.
- C
The IAM instance profile attached to the production EC2 instance does not have the necessary permissions to start the application service.
The instance profile must allow actions like ec2:StartInstances or ssm:StartAutomationExecution if the recipe uses those, or the application may need permissions to access resources.
- D
The Chef recipe does not include a 'service' resource to start the application; it only installs the package.
Why wrong: The problem states the recipe includes steps to install and configure the application; if it didn't include a start command, the logs would not show success.
Quick Answer
The answer is the IAM instance profile attached to the production EC2 instance lacks the necessary permissions to start the application service. This is because OpsWorks IAM instance profile permissions govern which AWS API calls the instance can make, and if the profile is missing permissions for service startup actions—such as `ec2:StartInstances` or access to a Secrets Manager secret—the Chef recipe’s service resource may report success in the logs while the underlying systemd or init daemon silently fails to launch the process. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that Chef client logs only confirm recipe execution, not the outcome of external API calls or service management; a common trap is assuming a successful recipe run guarantees the application is running. To remember this, think “logs lie, permissions prove”—always verify the instance profile’s policy allows the specific actions the recipe’s service resource requires.
DOP-C02 Configuration Management and IaC Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of configuration management and iac. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 engineer is troubleshooting an AWS OpsWorks for Chef Automate deployment. The Chef server is configured with a custom run list that includes a recipe to install and configure an application. The test environment works correctly, but in the production environment, the application fails to start. The Chef client logs show that the recipe executed successfully, but the application process is not running. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
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.
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 IAM instance profile attached to the production EC2 instance does not have the necessary permissions to start the application service.
Option C is correct because the IAM instance profile determines the AWS API permissions available to the EC2 instance. If the profile lacks permissions to call the service startup API (e.g., `ec2:StartInstances` or `autoscaling:CompleteLifecycleAction`), or to access required resources like an EFS mount target or Secrets Manager secret, the Chef recipe's service resource may execute without error but the underlying systemd or init daemon cannot actually start the application process. The Chef client logs only show recipe execution success, not the outcome of the service start, so the application fails silently.
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 OpsWorks stack is configured to use 'auto-healing' which automatically terminates and replaces instances that fail to start the application.
Why it's wrong here
Auto-healing replaces instances after failure, but the issue is that the recipe succeeded but the app didn't start.
- ✗
The Chef server in production is running a different version of Chef than the test environment, causing the recipe to behave differently.
Why it's wrong here
Chef versions are compatible within minor versions; differences would cause syntax errors, not silent failures.
- ✓
The IAM instance profile attached to the production EC2 instance does not have the necessary permissions to start the application service.
Why this is correct
The instance profile must allow actions like ec2:StartInstances or ssm:StartAutomationExecution if the recipe uses those, or the application may need permissions to access resources.
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 Chef recipe does not include a 'service' resource to start the application; it only installs the package.
Why it's wrong here
The problem states the recipe includes steps to install and configure the application; if it didn't include a start command, the logs would not show success.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume a successful Chef client run guarantees the application is running, but the exam tests the distinction between recipe execution success and the actual outcome of system commands that depend on IAM permissions.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The problem states the recipe includes steps to install and configure the application; if it didn't include a start command, the logs would not show success.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Chef's `service` resource uses the `systemctl` or `service` command to start the application, which in turn may require AWS API calls (e.g., to attach an ENI, mount an EFS volume, or retrieve a secret). The IAM instance profile's permissions are enforced by the AWS SDK or CLI invoked by the startup script; if the profile lacks `ec2:AttachNetworkInterface` or `secretsmanager:GetSecretValue`, the service start fails silently. In a real-world scenario, this often manifests when a production environment uses a restrictive IAM role while the test environment uses a permissive one, leading to inconsistent behavior.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: The IAM instance profile attached to the production EC2 instance does not have the necessary permissions to start the application service. — Option C is correct because the IAM instance profile determines the AWS API permissions available to the EC2 instance. If the profile lacks permissions to call the service startup API (e.g., `ec2:StartInstances` or `autoscaling:CompleteLifecycleAction`), or to access required resources like an EFS mount target or Secrets Manager secret, the Chef recipe's service resource may execute without error but the underlying systemd or init daemon cannot actually start the application process. The Chef client logs only show recipe execution success, not the outcome of the service start, so the application fails silently.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on DOP-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses AWS OpsWorks for Chef Automate. They have a stack that includes a PHP application layer. The application requires a custom PHP configuration file. The DevOps engineer creates a custom Chef cookbook with a recipe that deploys the configuration file. The recipe is assigned to the layer's Setup lifecycle event. The engineer notices that the configuration file is not being created on new instances when they are added to the layer. The cookbook is stored in a private S3 bucket. The engineer has verified that the cookbook is correctly associated with the stack. What should the engineer do to fix the issue?
medium- A.Assign the recipe to the Configure lifecycle event instead of Setup
- B.Verify that the recipe is included in the cookbook's default.rb file
- C.Update the cookbook version to the latest
- ✓ D.Ensure that the instance profile has permissions to read from the S3 bucket where the cookbook is stored
Why D: Option C is correct because OpsWorks requires that the cookbook be installed on the instance before the lifecycle event runs. The cookbook is in a private S3 bucket, so the instance needs permission to access it. The engineer should ensure that the stack's custom cookbooks source is configured with the correct S3 bucket and that the instance profile has permissions to read from the bucket. Option A is wrong because the recipe is assigned to the correct lifecycle event. Option B is wrong because the cookbook version is not the issue. Option D is wrong because the recipe is in the cookbook.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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