200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure and automation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
---
- name: Configure interface description
hosts: cisco_devices
gather_facts: no
tasks:
- name: Set description
ios_config:
lines:
- description Configured by Ansible
parents: interface GigabitEthernet0/1
Refer to the exhibit. An Ansible playbook is intended to set the description on GigabitEthernet0/1. However, the playbook fails because the device does not have that interface. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The specified interface does not exist on the device
Option D is correct because the playbook explicitly targets GigabitEthernet0/1 using the `interface` attribute under `lines`, and the error indicates the device does not have that interface. Ansible's ios_config module will fail if the specified interface does not exist on the device, as it cannot apply configuration to a non-existent logical or physical interface.
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.
✗
The module requires gather_facts to be yes
Why it's wrong here
gather_facts is not required for ios_config.
✗
The hosts group is incorrect
Why it's wrong here
If hosts were incorrect, the playbook would not run on any device, but the error is likely interface-specific.
✗
The lines attribute is misconfigured
Why it's wrong here
The lines syntax is correct for setting description.
✓
The specified interface does not exist on the device
Why this is correct
If the interface is not present, the module cannot apply configuration under it.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between a syntactically correct playbook and a playbook that fails due to device-specific constraints, such as a non-existent interface, to see if candidates confuse configuration syntax errors with device state issues.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The ios_config module sends CLI commands to the device via SSH, and if the interface does not exist, the device returns an error like 'Interface GigabitEthernet0/1 not found', which Ansible reports as a failure. In real-world scenarios, interface names can vary between device models (e.g., GigabitEthernet0/1 vs. GigabitEthernet1/0/1), and using `show ip interface brief` or `show interfaces` in a pre-task can validate interface existence before applying configuration.
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 practitioner preparing for the 200-901 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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: The specified interface does not exist on the device — Option D is correct because the playbook explicitly targets GigabitEthernet0/1 using the `interface` attribute under `lines`, and the error indicates the device does not have that interface. Ansible's ios_config module will fail if the specified interface does not exist on the device, as it cannot apply configuration to a non-existent logical or physical interface.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.