- A
Increase 'forks: 1' to serialize execution.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Serializing all tasks reduces parallelism unnecessarily; run_once is more targeted.
- B
Use 'throttle: 1' on the task.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Throttle limits concurrency but still runs the task on each host sequentially, causing overwrites.
- C
Use 'serial: 1' at the play level.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Serial batches hosts but still runs the task on each host, leading to overwrites.
- D
Use 'run_once: true' along with 'delegate_to'.
Correct: run_once ensures the task is executed only once, avoiding parallel overwrites.
Question 506 of 528
How to Avoid Local File Corruption Using delegate_to and run_once
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of implement advanced ansible 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.
A playbook uses 'delegate_to: localhost' for a task that modifies a local file. The playbook runs against multiple servers. The administrator notices that the local file is overwritten by each parallel execution, causing corruption. Which strategy should be used to prevent this?
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 'run_once: true' along with 'delegate_to'.
Option D is correct because `run_once: true` ensures that the task executes only once across the entire batch of hosts, even when `delegate_to: localhost` is used. This prevents the local file from being overwritten by multiple parallel executions, as the task runs on a single host (the first in the inventory) and delegates the file modification to localhost once.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase 'forks: 1' to serialize execution.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Serializing all tasks reduces parallelism unnecessarily; run_once is more targeted.
- ✗
Use 'throttle: 1' on the task.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Throttle limits concurrency but still runs the task on each host sequentially, causing overwrites.
- ✗
Use 'serial: 1' at the play level.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Serial batches hosts but still runs the task on each host, leading to overwrites.
- ✓
Use 'run_once: true' along with 'delegate_to'.
Why this is correct
Correct: run_once ensures the task is executed only once, avoiding parallel overwrites.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse serialization (`serial`, `forks`, `throttle`) with single execution (`run_once`), mistakenly believing that running tasks one at a time prevents the overwrite, when in fact each host still triggers the task.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `run_once: true` sets a fact `ansible_run_once` on the task, causing Ansible to skip execution for all hosts except the first in the inventory order. When combined with `delegate_to: localhost`, the task runs on the control node only once, making it ideal for idempotent local file operations like generating a summary report or updating a shared configuration file. A subtle behavior is that `run_once` respects the `order` directive (e.g., `inventory`, `reverse_inventory`, `sorted`) to determine which host triggers the task.
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 EX294 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX294 question test?
Implement advanced Ansible automation — This question tests Implement advanced Ansible automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use 'run_once: true' along with 'delegate_to'. — Option D is correct because `run_once: true` ensures that the task executes only once across the entire batch of hosts, even when `delegate_to: localhost` is used. This prevents the local file from being overwritten by multiple parallel executions, as the task runs on a single host (the first in the inventory) and delegates the file modification to localhost once.
What should I do if I get this EX294 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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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