- A
The routers have insufficient storage space to save the backup locally.
Why wrong: Backups are saved on the Ansible control node, not on the routers; router storage is irrelevant.
- B
The 'backup_dir' variable is not defined for those specific routers in their host_vars or group_vars, causing the playbook to use an undefined path.
If the variable is overridden or missing for certain hosts, the backup path may be invalid, leading to the error.
- C
The ios_config module requires the 'backup_options' sub-option to specify the directory, and the playbook is using the deprecated 'backup' parameter.
Why wrong: The 'backup: yes' parameter is still valid and creates a backup in the default or specified directory; the error points to a path issue, not a deprecated parameter.
- D
The routers are not reachable via SSH during the backup window.
Why wrong: Unreachable routers would produce connection errors, not 'backup destination path does not exist'.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the 'backup_dir' variable is not defined for those specific routers in their host_vars or group_vars, causing the playbook to use an undefined path. This is because Ansible variable precedence dictates that host-specific and group-specific variables override job template variables, so if a router lacks its own 'backup_dir' definition, the playbook falls back to a nonexistent or default path, triggering the 'backup destination path does not exist' error from the ios_config module. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this tests your understanding of how Ansible resolves variables across inventory, playbooks, and Tower templates—a common trap is assuming a variable set in the job template applies universally, when in reality host_vars or group_vars can silently override it. Remember the mnemonic: "Host vars win, group vars next, template vars last"—always check the specific router’s variable scope first.
350-401 Ansible Automation Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of ansible 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.
A network team uses Ansible Tower to manage configuration backups of 500 Cisco IOS routers. They have a playbook that uses the ios_config module with the 'backup: yes' option. Recently, backups started failing for a subset of routers, with errors like 'backup destination path does not exist'. The playbook uses a variable 'backup_dir' set in the Tower job template. What is the most likely cause of these failures?
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 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
The 'backup_dir' variable is not defined for those specific routers in their host_vars or group_vars, causing the playbook to use an undefined path.
The backup option in ios_config saves the backup file to a local directory on the Ansible control node. If the directory specified by 'backup_dir' does not exist on the control node, the module will fail. Since the error is specific to a subset of routers, it is likely that the variable is not being resolved correctly for those routers, possibly due to host_vars or group_vars overriding the job template variable.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 routers have insufficient storage space to save the backup locally.
Why it's wrong here
Backups are saved on the Ansible control node, not on the routers; router storage is irrelevant.
- ✓
The 'backup_dir' variable is not defined for those specific routers in their host_vars or group_vars, causing the playbook to use an undefined path.
Why this is correct
If the variable is overridden or missing for certain hosts, the backup path may be invalid, leading to the error.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
The ios_config module requires the 'backup_options' sub-option to specify the directory, and the playbook is using the deprecated 'backup' parameter.
Why it's wrong here
The 'backup: yes' parameter is still valid and creates a backup in the default or specified directory; the error points to a path issue, not a deprecated parameter.
- ✗
The routers are not reachable via SSH during the backup window.
Why it's wrong here
Unreachable routers would produce connection errors, not 'backup destination path does not exist'.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
Ansible Automation — This question tests Ansible Automation — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The 'backup_dir' variable is not defined for those specific routers in their host_vars or group_vars, causing the playbook to use an undefined path. — The backup option in ios_config saves the backup file to a local directory on the Ansible control node. If the directory specified by 'backup_dir' does not exist on the control node, the module will fail. Since the error is specific to a subset of routers, it is likely that the variable is not being resolved correctly for those routers, possibly due to host_vars or group_vars overriding the job template variable.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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