- A
Create a new OpsWorks stack with the patch and migrate instances to it.
Why wrong: Unnecessarily complex and disruptive.
- B
SSH into each instance and run the patch command manually.
Why wrong: Not scalable or automated.
- C
Update the layer's custom Chef recipe to include the patch and trigger a lifecycle event to execute the recipe on all instances.
OpsWorks runs Chef recipes on instances based on lifecycle events.
- D
Use AWS Systems Manager Run Command to run a patch command on each instance individually.
Why wrong: While possible, it is not as integrated as OpsWorks lifecycle events.
Question 1,168 of 1,750
Patching EC2 Instances in OpsWorks Layer with Chef Recipes
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 company uses AWS OpsWorks for configuration management of its EC2 instances. The DevOps team wants to apply a new security patch to all instances in a specific layer. What is the most efficient way to accomplish this?
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
✓
Update the layer's custom Chef recipe to include the patch and trigger a lifecycle event to execute the recipe on all instances.
Option C is correct because OpsWorks uses Chef to manage configuration, and updating the layer's custom Chef recipe to include the security patch allows you to trigger a lifecycle event (e.g., 'Setup' or 'Configure') that runs the recipe on all instances in that layer simultaneously. This approach is efficient, automated, and leverages OpsWorks' built-in configuration management without manual intervention or stack migration.
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.
- ✗
Create a new OpsWorks stack with the patch and migrate instances to it.
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessarily complex and disruptive.
- ✗
SSH into each instance and run the patch command manually.
Why it's wrong here
Not scalable or automated.
- ✓
Update the layer's custom Chef recipe to include the patch and trigger a lifecycle event to execute the recipe on all instances.
Why this is correct
OpsWorks runs Chef recipes on instances based on lifecycle events.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Systems Manager Run Command to run a patch command on each instance individually.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, it is not as integrated as OpsWorks lifecycle events.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option D (Systems Manager Run Command) because it is a valid patching tool, but they overlook that OpsWorks provides a more integrated and efficient layer-wide mechanism via Chef recipes and lifecycle events, which is the intended pattern for configuration management within OpsWorks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, OpsWorks uses Chef Solo (or Chef Client) to execute recipes during lifecycle events (Setup, Configure, Deploy, Undeploy, Shutdown). When you update a custom recipe in the layer's configuration and trigger a lifecycle event, OpsWorks runs the recipe on all instances in that layer via the OpsWorks agent, which pulls the updated cookbook from a repository (e.g., S3 or Git) and executes it locally. This ensures idempotent application of patches across the layer, and the agent handles retries and state reporting automatically.
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: Update the layer's custom Chef recipe to include the patch and trigger a lifecycle event to execute the recipe on all instances. — Option C is correct because OpsWorks uses Chef to manage configuration, and updating the layer's custom Chef recipe to include the security patch allows you to trigger a lifecycle event (e.g., 'Setup' or 'Configure') that runs the recipe on all instances in that layer simultaneously. This approach is efficient, automated, and leverages OpsWorks' built-in configuration management without manual intervention or stack migration.
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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