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.
An engineer needs to automate the deployment of VLAN configurations on a fleet of Cisco Catalyst 9000 switches running IOS-XE. The team uses Ansible Tower for automation. Which Ansible module should be used to push VLAN configuration idempotently?
ios_vlan
ios_vlan is specifically designed for VLAN management, ensuring idempotent operations.
ios_command
Why wrong: ios_command executes show commands only, not configuration.
ios_config
Why wrong: ios_config pushes raw CLI lines; it does not provide VLAN-specific idempotency or validation.
ios_interface
Why wrong: ios_interface manages interface settings, not VLAN definitions.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ios_vlan
The ios_vlan module is purpose-built for idempotent VLAN management on Cisco IOS-XE devices. It ensures that a VLAN with the specified VLAN ID, name, and state (active/suspend) is present or absent without affecting other VLANs, making it the correct choice for automating VLAN deployment idempotently.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
ios_vlan
Why this is correct
ios_vlan is specifically designed for VLAN management, ensuring idempotent operations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ios_command
Why it's wrong here
ios_command executes show commands only, not configuration.
ios_config
Why it's wrong here
ios_config pushes raw CLI lines; it does not provide VLAN-specific idempotency or validation.
ios_interface
Why it's wrong here
ios_interface manages interface settings, not VLAN definitions.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between generic configuration modules (ios_config) and resource-specific modules (ios_vlan), trapping candidates who assume any module that can push VLAN commands is sufficient for idempotent VLAN management.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
ios_command executes show commands only, not configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
The ios_vlan module leverages the Cisco IOS-XE NETCONF/YANG or CLI-based API to read the current VLAN database (vlan.dat) and compare it against the desired state. Under the hood, it uses the 'show vlan' or 'show vlan brief' output to detect existing VLANs, then issues 'vlan <id>' and 'name <name>' commands only if the VLAN is missing or misconfigured, ensuring idempotency. In real-world scenarios, this prevents accidental VLAN duplication or disruption when rerunning playbooks across thousands of switches.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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FAQ
Infrastructure and Automation — This question tests Infrastructure and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ios_vlan — The ios_vlan module is purpose-built for idempotent VLAN management on Cisco IOS-XE devices. It ensures that a VLAN with the specified VLAN ID, name, and state (active/suspend) is present or absent without affecting other VLANs, making it the correct choice for automating VLAN deployment idempotently.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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