EX294 Deploy Ansible Automation Platform Practice Question
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of deploy ansible automation platform. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
[root@controller ~]# cat /etc/ansible-automation-platform/setup.sh
#!/bin/bash
# AAP 2.4 installer
# ...
ADMIN_PASSWORD='redhat'
PGHOST='192.168.1.100'
PGPORT='5432'
PGDATABASE='awx'
PGUSER='awx_admin'
PGPASSWORD='secure_pass'
# ...
[root@controller ~]# ./setup.sh -i inventory.yml
...
TASK [Installer : wait for controller to be ready] ****************************
fatal: [localhost]: FAILED! => {"changed": false, "msg": "Timeout waiting for controller to become ready. Check logs."}
[root@controller ~]# cat /var/log/ansible-automation-platform/controller/startup.log
...
ERROR: could not connect to server: Connection refused
Is the server running on host "192.168.1.100" and accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432?
A systems administrator is deploying Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 using the provided setup script. The installation fails with the error shown in the exhibit. Based on the exhibit, what is the most likely cause of the failure?
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.
Refer to the exhibit.
[root@controller ~]# cat /etc/ansible-automation-platform/setup.sh
#!/bin/bash
# AAP 2.4 installer
# ...
ADMIN_PASSWORD='redhat'
PGHOST='192.168.1.100'
PGPORT='5432'
PGDATABASE='awx'
PGUSER='awx_admin'
PGPASSWORD='secure_pass'
# ...
[root@controller ~]# ./setup.sh -i inventory.yml
...
TASK [Installer : wait for controller to be ready] ****************************
fatal: [localhost]: FAILED! => {"changed": false, "msg": "Timeout waiting for controller to become ready. Check logs."}
[root@controller ~]# cat /var/log/ansible-automation-platform/controller/startup.log
...
ERROR: could not connect to server: Connection refused
Is the server running on host "192.168.1.100" and accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432?
A
The installer requires a local PostgreSQL database; using a remote database is not supported.
Why wrong: AAP 2.4 supports both local and remote databases.
B
The database password specified in setup.sh does not match the actual PostgreSQL password.
Why wrong: A password mismatch would cause an authentication error, not connection refused.
C
SELinux is blocking the ansible-navigator process from reaching the database.
Why wrong: SELinux would produce an AVC denial, not a connection refused error.
D
The PostgreSQL service is not running on the database server.
The error 'Connection refused' indicates the PostgreSQL server is not listening on the specified host/port.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The PostgreSQL service is not running on the database server.
The error exhibit indicates that the installer cannot connect to the PostgreSQL database. The most common cause of this failure is that the PostgreSQL service is not running on the database server, preventing the Ansible Automation Platform setup script from establishing a connection. Without the database service active, the installer cannot proceed with the deployment.
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.
✗
The installer requires a local PostgreSQL database; using a remote database is not supported.
Why it's wrong here
AAP 2.4 supports both local and remote databases.
✗
The database password specified in setup.sh does not match the actual PostgreSQL password.
Why it's wrong here
A password mismatch would cause an authentication error, not connection refused.
✗
SELinux is blocking the ansible-navigator process from reaching the database.
Why it's wrong here
SELinux would produce an AVC denial, not a connection refused error.
✓
The PostgreSQL service is not running on the database server.
Why this is correct
The error 'Connection refused' indicates the PostgreSQL server is not listening on the specified host/port.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
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 may assume a database password mismatch (Option B) is the issue, but the error message clearly indicates a connection failure rather than an authentication failure, which is a common confusion in database connectivity troubleshooting.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Ansible Automation Platform installer uses a Python-based playbook that connects to PostgreSQL via the psycopg2 library over TCP port 5432. If the PostgreSQL service is not running, the connection attempt will fail with a timeout or 'connection refused' error, as the TCP handshake cannot complete. In a real-world scenario, this often occurs after a server reboot or when the database service is not configured to start automatically.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Deploy Ansible Automation Platform — This question tests Deploy Ansible Automation Platform — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The PostgreSQL service is not running on the database server. — The error exhibit indicates that the installer cannot connect to the PostgreSQL database. The most common cause of this failure is that the PostgreSQL service is not running on the database server, preventing the Ansible Automation Platform setup script from establishing a connection. Without the database service active, the installer cannot proceed with the deployment.
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.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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