EX294 Deploy Ansible Automation Platform Practice Question
An administrator is deploying a containerized Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 on a RHEL 9 host using the `ansible-container-installer`. After running the installation, the automation controller web UI is unreachable, and `podman ps` shows that the `automation-controller` container is in a restart loop. The administrator checks the container logs and sees repeated messages about failing to connect to the PostgreSQL database. The database container is running. Which action should the administrator take next?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is focusing on container runtime or resource issues when the error message explicitly points to a database connection failure, which is typically a configuration mismatch.
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
✓
Inspect the `automation-controller` container's environment variables to ensure the database hostname, port, username, and password match those configured for the PostgreSQL container.
In a containerized AAP deployment, the automation controller and PostgreSQL run as separate containers. The controller uses environment variables to locate and authenticate to the database. When the controller container enters a restart loop with database connection errors, the most likely cause is a mismatch in these environment variables. Verifying and aligning them with the database container's configuration restores connectivity and allows the controller to start successfully.
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 the memory limit for the automation controller container by editing the `container.yml` file and re-running the installer.
Why it's wrong here
Memory limits are unrelated to database connection errors. The logs clearly indicate a failure to connect to PostgreSQL, not an out-of-memory condition. Adjusting memory would not resolve the connectivity issue and could introduce unnecessary resource changes. The administrator should focus on database connection parameters instead.
- ✗
Restart the PostgreSQL container with `podman restart postgresql` and then restart the automation controller container.
Why it's wrong here
Restarting the containers does not address the root cause, which is a misconfiguration preventing the controller from connecting to the database. While a restart might temporarily change the container state, the connection error will persist if the environment variables or network settings are incorrect. This action is a temporary workaround, not a solution.
- ✗
Verify that the `postgresql` container's data directory has the correct SELinux context and that the `container_manage_cgroup` boolean is enabled.
Why it's wrong here
SELinux context and the `container_manage_cgroup` boolean are relevant for container runtime permissions, but the error explicitly indicates a database connection failure. The PostgreSQL container is already running, so the issue is likely network or authentication between containers, not SELinux context on the data directory. Checking these would not resolve the connection error.
- ✓
Inspect the `automation-controller` container's environment variables to ensure the database hostname, port, username, and password match those configured for the PostgreSQL container.
Why this is correct
In a containerized AAP deployment, the controller connects to the database using environment variables such as `CONTROLLER_PG_HOST`, `CONTROLLER_PG_PORT`, `CONTROLLER_PG_USER`, and `CONTROLLER_PG_PASSWORD`. If these do not match the actual database container's configuration, the controller will fail to connect and restart. Verifying and correcting these variables resolves the issue.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every EX294 question from scratch — 392 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 Red Hat exam blueprint
This EX294 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Red Hat 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 EX294 exam.