The correct answer is that the CodeDeploy agent requires ruby and wget, which are not installed by default on Amazon Linux 2. This is because the agent relies on these packages to download revision files from S3 and execute deployment scripts; without ruby and wget, the agent cannot process the deployment instructions, causing individual instance failures that cascade into the overall deployment error. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the CodeDeploy agent’s dependencies on Amazon Linux 2, a common trap where candidates assume the agent works out of the box or misdiagnose the issue as a permissions or scaling problem. A key memory tip is to remember that Amazon Linux 2 is minimal by design, so always verify ruby and wget are present before troubleshooting agent connectivity or deployment group settings.
SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. 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 company is using AWS CodeDeploy to automate deployments to an Auto Scaling group of Amazon EC2 instances. The deployment fails with the error 'The overall deployment failed because too many individual instances failed deployment, too few healthy instances are available, or some instances in your deployment group are experiencing problems.' The instances are running Amazon Linux 2 and the CodeDeploy agent is installed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this failure?
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 CodeDeploy agent requires ruby and wget, which are not installed by default on Amazon Linux 2.
Option A is correct because the CodeDeploy agent needs the ruby and wget packages to function correctly on Amazon Linux 2. Without them, the agent may fail to download or execute the deployment scripts, causing instance failures. Option B is incorrect because S3 bucket policies do not affect CodeDeploy agent functionality directly; the agent uses HTTPS to download revision files. Option C is incorrect because the deployment configuration controls how many instances can fail, but does not cause individual instance failures. Option D is incorrect because the deployment group can be configured with any number of instances; the error is not due to group size but individual instance failures.
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 CodeDeploy agent requires ruby and wget, which are not installed by default on Amazon Linux 2.
Why this is correct
Why A is correct
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 S3 bucket containing the deployment artifacts has a bucket policy that denies access to the instances.
Why it's wrong here
Why B is wrong
✗
The deployment configuration is set to 'OneAtATime', causing insufficient healthy instances during the first deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Why C is wrong
✗
The Auto Scaling group has a minimum of 0 instances, so the deployment cannot start.
Why it's wrong here
Why D is wrong
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SOA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — This question tests Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The CodeDeploy agent requires ruby and wget, which are not installed by default on Amazon Linux 2. — Option A is correct because the CodeDeploy agent needs the ruby and wget packages to function correctly on Amazon Linux 2. Without them, the agent may fail to download or execute the deployment scripts, causing instance failures. Option B is incorrect because S3 bucket policies do not affect CodeDeploy agent functionality directly; the agent uses HTTPS to download revision files. Option C is incorrect because the deployment configuration controls how many instances can fail, but does not cause individual instance failures. Option D is incorrect because the deployment group can be configured with any number of instances; the error is not due to group size but individual instance failures.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SOA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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.
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Question Discussion
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