200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure 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 network engineer uses Ansible to apply a standard ACL to multiple routers. The playbook runs without errors, but the ACL is not applied on some routers. Upon checking, those routers have a different configuration revision due to a previous manual change. What is the best practice to ensure consistent application?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the 'replace' parameter to overwrite the entire config
Option A is correct because the 'replace' parameter in Ansible's ios_config module forces a full configuration replacement on the target device, overwriting the entire running configuration with the intended configuration. This ensures that any prior manual changes or configuration revisions are eliminated, guaranteeing consistent ACL application across all routers regardless of their current state.
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.
✓
Use the 'replace' parameter to overwrite the entire config
Why this is correct
The replace parameter forces the device to replace its running config with the provided config, ensuring consistency.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use the ansible_network_os variable correctly
Why it's wrong here
Setting the OS variable alone does not enforce configuration consistency.
✗
Use the 'backup' option in ios_config
Why it's wrong here
Backup creates a backup file but does not ensure the configuration is applied.
✗
Use the 'ignore_errors' directive
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring errors would hide issues, not solve them.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'replace' with 'backup' or think that setting the correct network OS variable is sufficient to handle configuration conflicts, but Cisco tests the understanding that only a full configuration replacement guarantees consistency when devices have divergent configuration revisions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'replace' parameter leverages the Cisco IOS 'configure replace' command under the hood, which uses the 'archive' feature to atomically replace the running configuration with a specified configuration file. This operation compares the candidate configuration against the running config and applies only the differences, but in 'replace' mode, it ensures the final state matches exactly, even if the device had divergent manual changes. In real-world scenarios, this is critical when managing devices in brownfield environments where operators may have made out-of-band changes, as it prevents configuration drift without requiring a full reload.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
Infrastructure and Automation — This question tests Infrastructure and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the 'replace' parameter to overwrite the entire config — Option A is correct because the 'replace' parameter in Ansible's ios_config module forces a full configuration replacement on the target device, overwriting the entire running configuration with the intended configuration. This ensures that any prior manual changes or configuration revisions are eliminated, guaranteeing consistent ACL application across all routers regardless of their current state.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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