200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
A network engineer wants to automate the configuration of multiple Cisco IOS devices using Ansible. What is the minimum requirement on the control node to execute Ansible playbooks against these devices?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that Ansible requires a dedicated server or commercial product like Ansible Tower, when in fact the minimum requirement is simply a Linux/macOS host with Python and the Ansible package installed.
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
✓
A Linux or macOS control node with Python installed
Ansible uses a push-based architecture where the control node must be a Linux or macOS system with Python installed to execute playbooks. Python is required because Ansible itself is written in Python and relies on it for modules, SSH connections, and Jinja2 templating. No additional database, license, or dedicated management server is needed for basic network automation against Cisco IOS devices.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ansible Tower license for automated network configuration
Why it's wrong here
Ansible itself is open source and executes playbooks without any Tower licence; Tower is the commercial web front end. A licence becomes relevant only when centralised job scheduling, RBAC and audit logging across teams are needed, none of which the question requires.
- ✗
A PostgreSQL database to store inventory and credentials
Why it's wrong here
Ansible reads inventory from static INI or YAML files by default and needs no external database; PostgreSQL is only needed when using dynamic inventory plugins backed by a CMDB. The minimum requirement is simply Ansible installed on a control node with SSH reachability.
- ✗
A dedicated management server with Ansible Tower installed
Why it's wrong here
Ansible Tower is a paid automation platform adding scheduling, RBAC and a web UI; it is not required to execute playbooks. Tower suits enterprise-scale orchestration with centralised credential management, but a plain control node running the ansible CLI against IOS devices suffices here.
- ✓
A Linux or macOS control node with Python installed
Why this is correct
Ansible runs agentlessly from a control node, which must be Linux or macOS with Python installed; no agent is needed on managed Cisco IOS devices. This satisfies the minimum control-node requirement for executing playbooks over SSH or network APIs.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-901 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 200-901 exam.