CV0-004 Deployment Practice Question
A cloud administrator is writing an Ansible playbook to provision cloud resources. The administrator wants to ensure that the playbook can run without requiring any agent software on the target machines. Which Ansible feature enables this agentless operation?
⚠ Common exam trap
CV0-004 often tests the misconception that Ansible requires an agent or that modules run on the control node — candidates must remember that Ansible pushes modules over SSH and executes them on the managed node.
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
✓
SSH-based connection to managed nodes
Ansible is agentless by design and connects to managed nodes over standard SSH (or WinRM for Windows). This means no Ansible agent or daemon needs to be installed on target machines — the control node pushes modules over SSH, executes them, and removes them. SSH-based connection is the foundational mechanism that enables this agentless architecture.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ansible inventory files that list hosts
Why it's wrong here
An inventory file merely lists managed hosts and connection details; it does not itself provide the agentless transport. It is tempting because every playbook needs one, and it would be the right answer if the question asked how Ansible locates target machines.
- ✗
Ansible modules that run on the control node
Why it's wrong here
Modules execute on the managed target, not the control node, so this describes the opposite of how Ansible works. It is tempting because control-node execution sounds centralised and agent-free, and would be correct if the question asked where the playbook orchestration logic itself runs.
- ✓
SSH-based connection to managed nodes
Why this is correct
Ansible connects over SSH and pushes Python modules to managed nodes, executing them remotely without installing a persistent agent. This satisfies the agentless requirement, unlike pull-based configuration tools that mandate agent software on every target machine.
- ✗
Pull mode from a central repository
Why it's wrong here
Pull mode changes when nodes fetch configuration, typically via ansible-pull, and still relies on SSH or a scheduled local run; it does not remove the agent requirement. It is tempting because it sounds agent-free, and would be correct if the question asked about scheduled, self-initiated configuration runs.
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About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CV0-004 question from scratch — 834 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This CV0-004 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CV0-004 exam.