- A
Use 'patches: [path: deployment-patch.yaml]'
Why wrong: 'patches' is not a standard field in kustomization.yaml; the correct field is 'patchesStrategicMerge' or 'patchesJson6902'.
- B
Use 'resources: [../base]' and then define a new Deployment with the same name to override.
Why wrong: This would create a conflict and is not the recommended approach; patching is the correct method.
- C
Use 'patchesStrategicMerge: [deployment-patch.yaml]' where deployment-patch.yaml contains the image override.
patchesStrategicMerge applies a strategic merge patch to the base resources. This is the standard way to overlay changes.
- D
Use 'patchesJson6902: [target: ..., patch: ...]'
Why wrong: patchesJson6902 is for JSON patches, which are more complex; a simple image change is better done with strategic merge.
CKAD Application Deployment Practice Question
This CKAD practice question tests your understanding of application deployment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
You are using Kustomize to manage configurations. Your project structure is: 'base/kustomization.yaml', 'overlays/prod/kustomization.yaml'. The base defines a Deployment with image 'nginx:1.18'. The overlay wants to patch the image to 'nginx:1.19'. Which is the correct way to define the patch in the overlay?
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
Use 'patchesStrategicMerge: [deployment-patch.yaml]' where deployment-patch.yaml contains the image override.
Option B is correct: patchesStrategicMerge is used for strategic merge patches. Option A is a valid field but for JSON patches, not for this simple image change. Option C is incorrect because patchesJson6902 is for JSON patches. Option D is a valid field but not the standard way; patchesStrategicMerge is more common for such patches.
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.
- ✗
Use 'patches: [path: deployment-patch.yaml]'
Why it's wrong here
'patches' is not a standard field in kustomization.yaml; the correct field is 'patchesStrategicMerge' or 'patchesJson6902'.
- ✗
Use 'resources: [../base]' and then define a new Deployment with the same name to override.
Why it's wrong here
This would create a conflict and is not the recommended approach; patching is the correct method.
- ✓
Use 'patchesStrategicMerge: [deployment-patch.yaml]' where deployment-patch.yaml contains the image override.
Why this is correct
patchesStrategicMerge applies a strategic merge patch to the base resources. This is the standard way to overlay changes.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Use 'patchesJson6902: [target: ..., patch: ...]'
Why it's wrong here
patchesJson6902 is for JSON patches, which are more complex; a simple image change is better done with strategic merge.
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 CKAD NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKAD question test?
Application Deployment — This question tests Application Deployment — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use 'patchesStrategicMerge: [deployment-patch.yaml]' where deployment-patch.yaml contains the image override. — Option B is correct: patchesStrategicMerge is used for strategic merge patches. Option A is a valid field but for JSON patches, not for this simple image change. Option C is incorrect because patchesJson6902 is for JSON patches. Option D is a valid field but not the standard way; patchesStrategicMerge is more common for such patches.
What should I do if I get this CKAD 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 CKAD NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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 21, 2026
This CKAD practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF 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 CKAD exam.
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