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200-901 Practice Question: In a CI/CD pipeline for a network automation…
In a CI/CD pipeline for a network automation project, which stage is responsible for validating the syntax of YAML configuration files?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between static analysis (Lint) and dynamic verification (Test), so candidates may confuse syntax validation with functional testing and incorrectly select Test.
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
✓
Lint
The Lint stage in a CI/CD pipeline is specifically designed to perform static analysis on code and configuration files, including YAML syntax validation. For network automation projects, tools like yamllint or ansible-lint check for indentation errors, missing colons, or invalid data types before the configuration is applied to network devices. This ensures that only syntactically correct YAML files proceed to later stages, preventing deployment failures.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Deploy
Why it's wrong here
Deploy releases validated artefacts to target environments; it does not parse YAML. It is tempting because deployment consumes configuration files, and would be correct where the requirement is pushing a tested build to a runtime environment rather than checking file syntax beforehand.
- ✓
Lint
Why this is correct
Linting statically parses YAML to catch syntax errors, indentation faults and schema violations before execution. Placing it as an early pipeline stage fails the build fast, satisfying the requirement to validate configuration syntax rather than test runtime behaviour or deploy artefacts.
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Test
Why it's wrong here
The Test stage runs functional and unit tests against built artefacts; YAML syntax validation belongs to the lint stage, which parses configuration files before tests execute. It is tempting because testing implies checking, and would be correct where the requirement is verifying behaviour rather than file structure.
- ✗
Build
Why it's wrong here
The Build stage compiles source and packages artefacts; it does not parse YAML syntax. It is tempting because build pipelines often run linters alongside compilation, and would be correct where the requirement is producing a deployable artefact rather than validating configuration file structure.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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