350-501 Automation and Assurance Practice Question
A team uses Ansible to automate configuration of Cisco devices. They want to ensure that configurations are applied only if the device is reachable and the current configuration differs from the intended. Which Ansible module or feature is best suited for this?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse `check_mode` with `ios_command` or `ios_facts`, assuming that simply gathering facts or running a command can determine configuration drift, but only `ios_config` with `check_mode` provides the idempotent diff-and-apply workflow required by the question.
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
✓
ios_config with check_mode
The `ios_config` module with `check_mode` (enabled via the `--check` flag or `check_mode: yes`) allows Ansible to first verify device reachability and then compare the intended configuration against the running configuration without making changes. Only when a difference is detected and `check_mode` is disabled will the module apply the configuration changes. This directly meets the requirement of applying configurations only when the device is reachable and the current configuration differs from the intended.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ios_system
Why it's wrong here
ios_system configures system settings but does not provide idempotent change detection across the whole config.
- ✗
net_get
Why it's wrong here
net_get is used to retrieve files from network devices, not to apply configurations.
- ✓
ios_config with check_mode
Why this is correct
check_mode performs a diff and only applies changes when there is a difference, ensuring idempotency.
- ✗
ios_command
Why it's wrong here
ios_command executes arbitrary commands without idempotency or change detection.
- ✗
ios_facts
Why it's wrong here
ios_facts gathers information but does not apply configurations.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-501 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 350-501 exam.