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200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure and automation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which TWO statements are correct about Ansible inventory files? (Select exactly 2.)
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
✓
Inventory files can be written in YAML format
Ansible inventory files define the hosts and groups that Ansible manages. They can be written in YAML format, which is a human-readable data serialization language that Ansible supports alongside the traditional INI format. This flexibility allows users to choose the format that best suits their automation needs, with YAML being particularly useful for complex inventories due to its support for structured data.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that Ansible inventory files are limited to INI format, but the exam expects you to know that YAML is also a valid format, and that `[vars]` is not a standard section in Ansible inventories (group variables are handled differently).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Ansible parses inventory files using the `InventoryManager` class, which supports multiple formats via plugins (e.g., `ini`, `yaml`, `auto`). In YAML inventories, variables can be nested under `hosts` and `children` keys, allowing for complex group hierarchies and variable inheritance. A real-world scenario is managing a multi-tier application where YAML inventories enable clear separation of variables for web, app, and database groups, reducing errors compared to flat INI files.
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.
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Infrastructure and Automation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-901 question test?
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: Inventory files can be written in YAML format — Ansible inventory files define the hosts and groups that Ansible manages. They can be written in YAML format, which is a human-readable data serialization language that Ansible supports alongside the traditional INI format. This flexibility allows users to choose the format that best suits their automation needs, with YAML being particularly useful for complex inventories due to its support for structured data.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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