EX294 Manage inventories and credentials Practice Question
An administrator is creating a new inventory file for a small environment. The inventory must define a group `app` containing hosts `app1` and `app2`, and a group `db` containing host `db1`. The administrator wants to use the INI format. Which inventory file content correctly defines these groups?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that comma-separated hosts or YAML-like structures are valid in INI inventory files, when each host must be on its own line.
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
✓
[app] app1 app2 [db] db1
Ansible INI inventory files use square-bracketed group names followed by one host per line. The correct content defines the `app` group with app1 and app2 on separate lines, and the `db` group with db1. The other options use invalid syntax such as key-value pairs, non-standard keywords, or comma-separated hosts, which Ansible would not parse as intended.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
app: app1, app2 db: db1
Why it's wrong here
This format resembles YAML or a custom key-value pair, but it is not valid INI inventory syntax for Ansible. Ansible's INI inventory uses section headers in square brackets followed by hostnames on separate lines. This content would likely be parsed as hosts with names like 'app: app1, app2', which is incorrect. It does not define groups as intended.
- ✗
[app] app1, app2 [db] db1
Why it's wrong here
While the group headers are correct, the line 'app1, app2' under [app] is invalid because INI inventory expects one host per line. Commas are not used to separate hosts in INI format; that is a YAML or ad-hoc pattern syntax. Ansible would treat 'app1, app2' as a single hostname, which is incorrect. This fails to define app1 and app2 as separate hosts.
- ✓
[app] app1 app2 [db] db1
Why this is correct
This content correctly uses INI section headers to define groups. The group `app` contains app1 and app2, and the group `db` contains db1. There are no syntax errors, and the format matches Ansible's INI inventory requirements. This is the valid and straightforward way to define static groups in an INI inventory file.
- ✗
group app host app1 host app2 group db host db1
Why it's wrong here
This syntax uses keywords like 'group' and 'host', which are not part of Ansible's INI inventory format. Ansible INI inventories use bracketed group names and plain host lines. This content would be misinterpreted, causing errors or unexpected host entries. It does not correctly define the groups and hosts.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Red Hat exam blueprint
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