SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
A company is using AWS OpsWorks for configuration management of their EC2 instances. The SysOps Administrator wants to migrate to AWS Systems Manager for a more modern approach. The administrator needs to ensure that existing instances running Amazon Linux 2 can be managed by Systems Manager without downtime. The instances are currently in a running state and are critical to operations. What should the administrator 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
✓
Install the SSM Agent on the existing instances using a script or AWS Systems Manager Run Command.
The AWS Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent) can be installed on existing running Amazon Linux 2 instances using a script or AWS Systems Manager Run Command, enabling management by Systems Manager without any downtime. Option A is incorrect because changing the OpsWorks stack configuration does not install the SSM Agent; the stack would still rely on the OpsWorks agent. Option B is incorrect because creating a custom AMI and launching new instances would require replacing the existing instances, causing downtime. Option C is incorrect because deleting and recreating the OpsWorks stack would be disruptive and does not address the need to manage existing instances without downtime.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Change the OpsWorks stack configuration to use Systems Manager instead of OpsWorks agent.
Why it's wrong here
OpsWorks does not offer a configuration toggle to substitute its agent with the Systems Manager (SSM) Agent, because the two agents serve different purposes: the OpsWorks agent manages lifecycle events and Chef/Puppet recipes, while the SSM Agent handles Systems Manager operations. Even if you changed stack settings, the OpsWorks agent would still remain, and this change would not install SSM Agent on existing instances. This option misunderstands the architecture; the correct approach is to run the SSM Agent alongside the OpsWorks agent, not replace the OpsWorks agent.
- ✗
Create a custom AMI with the SSM Agent pre-installed and launch new instances from it.
Why it's wrong here
This only affects newly launched instances; it does nothing for the existing instances that need SSM Agent. To benefit, you would have to replace each current instance with a new one from the AMI, which causes downtime and loses instance state and OpsWorks-managed configuration. A custom AMI is a good pattern for future scaling, but it is not a non-disruptive way to add SSM Agent to an already-running OpsWorks fleet.
- ✗
Delete the OpsWorks stack and recreate it with Systems Manager integration.
Why it's wrong here
This is destructive and requires tearing down the entire stack, including instances and life-cycle management, causing significant downtime and potential data loss. Additionally, Systems Manager does not need stack recreation — the SSM Agent can be installed on existing instances within the current OpsWorks stack. Deleting the stack also loses configuration recipes and any manual modifications applied post-deployment, making this the most disruptive and unnecessary option.
- ✓
Install the SSM Agent on the existing instances using a script or AWS Systems Manager Run Command.
Why this is correct
Installing the SSM Agent directly on the existing instances, either by running an installation script or via AWS Systems Manager Run Command (once connectivity to the SSM service is available), is an in-place, non-destructive operation. It preserves the OpsWorks stack, all current configurations, and avoids instance replacement or downtime. This enables Systems Manager capabilities such as Run Command, Patch Manager, and Inventory to work alongside OpsWorks' existing configuration management.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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