200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
Which THREE practices help ensure idempotent network automation? (Select three)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that simply running a command multiple times or appending configuration ensures idempotency, when in fact true idempotency requires state checking and declarative desired-state definitions.
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
✓
Using the 'state' parameter in Ansible modules to define desired state
Using the 'state' parameter in Ansible modules (e.g., 'state: present' or 'state: absent') explicitly declares the desired end state of a resource. This allows the module to compare the current state against the desired state and only make changes if necessary, ensuring that running the playbook multiple times produces the same result without unintended side effects.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Using the 'state' parameter in Ansible modules to define desired state
Why this is correct
This ensures the module only takes action if the current state does not match the desired state.
- ✓
Using a transactional approach (e.g., configure candidate and commit)
Why this is correct
Transactions allow atomic changes and easy rollback, ensuring consistency.
- ✗
Running commands multiple times to ensure they are applied
Why it's wrong here
Repeating commands can cause errors on subsequent runs and is not idempotent.
- ✓
Checking the current state before applying changes
Why this is correct
Pre-checks prevent unnecessary changes and reduce side effects.
- ✗
Always appending new configuration commands to the running config
Why it's wrong here
Appending can lead to duplicate entries and is not idempotent.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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