The answer is a missing web server on the custom AMI. Elastic Beanstalk relies on a pre-installed and configured web server, such as Apache or Nginx, to serve the application and respond to the health check endpoint. When you create a custom AMI for Elastic Beanstalk, you must include and start the web server software; otherwise, the health check request for the 'index.html' file receives no HTTP response, causing the instance to fail the health check. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that Elastic Beanstalk’s health checks are application-level HTTP checks, not EC2 status checks—a common trap where administrators assume a running instance is enough. Remember the memory tip: "No server, no serve"—if your custom AMI lacks a running web server, Elastic Beanstalk cannot serve the health check file, and the deployment will fail.
SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. 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 is deploying a new web application using AWS Elastic Beanstalk. The application requires a custom Amazon Machine Image (AMI) with specific software pre-installed. The SysOps administrator creates a custom AMI and configures Elastic Beanstalk to use it. However, during deployment, the instances fail to pass the health check. The health check endpoint is a simple 'index.html' file. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The custom AMI does not have a web server installed and configured to serve the application.
Option B is correct because Elastic Beanstalk expects the web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx) to be installed and configured to serve the application. If the custom AMI does not have a web server installed, the health check endpoint will not respond. Option A is incorrect because the health check is based on HTTP response, not instance status checks. Option C is incorrect because Elastic Beanstalk does not require a specific AMI ID; it uses the one provided. Option D is incorrect because the environment URL is created regardless of the AMI.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 Elastic Beanstalk environment was created before the custom AMI was registered.
Why it's wrong here
Why D is wrong
✓
The custom AMI does not have a web server installed and configured to serve the application.
Why this is correct
Why B is correct
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The custom AMI is not registered with the same account that owns the Elastic Beanstalk environment.
Why it's wrong here
Why C is wrong
✗
The custom AMI does not have the latest patches, causing the instance to fail the EC2 status checks.
Why it's wrong here
Why A is wrong
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. 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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — This question tests Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The custom AMI does not have a web server installed and configured to serve the application. — Option B is correct because Elastic Beanstalk expects the web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx) to be installed and configured to serve the application. If the custom AMI does not have a web server installed, the health check endpoint will not respond. Option A is incorrect because the health check is based on HTTP response, not instance status checks. Option C is incorrect because Elastic Beanstalk does not require a specific AMI ID; it uses the one provided. Option D is incorrect because the environment URL is created regardless of the AMI.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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