- A
the playbook has a 'failed_when' condition that stops execution
Why wrong: A 'failed_when' condition would cause the play to stop on failure, but it would not normally result in PLAY RECAP showing only one host unless all hosts fail. The scenario describes a successful run on one host.
- B
the inventory contains only one host
Correct. If the inventory contains only one host, the playbook will run on that host and then finish, producing a PLAY RECAP with exactly one host. This is the most likely reason given the behavior described.
- C
the play uses 'delegate_to' incorrectly
Why wrong: Incorrect use of 'delegate_to' might affect task execution but would not cause the playbook to stop after one host unless it results in an error or changes the host pattern.
- D
the playbook does not have any task that triggers the next batch, and 'serial' only controls concurrency, not retry
Why wrong: While 'serial: 1' controls concurrency, it does not stop execution after one batch; Ansible automatically proceeds to the next host after the current batch completes. This option is incorrect because it suggests that 'serial' alone causes the playbook to stop.
EX294 serial Practice Question
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. A key principle to apply: serial. 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.
An Ansible playbook uses a rolling update strategy with serial: 1. After the first host is updated, the playbook stops and shows 'PLAY RECAP' with only one host. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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.
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
the inventory contains only one host
The `serial: 1` directive in Ansible limits concurrency to one host at a time, but the playbook will still process all hosts in the inventory. If the playbook stops after the first host and shows PLAY RECAP with only one host, the most likely reason is that the inventory contains only one host. With a single host, the play executes on that host and then finishes. Option B accurately identifies this scenario.
Key principle: serial
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 playbook has a 'failed_when' condition that stops execution
Why it's wrong here
A 'failed_when' condition would cause the play to stop on failure, but it would not normally result in PLAY RECAP showing only one host unless all hosts fail. The scenario describes a successful run on one host.
- ✓
the inventory contains only one host
Why this is correct
Correct. If the inventory contains only one host, the playbook will run on that host and then finish, producing a PLAY RECAP with exactly one host. This is the most likely reason given the behavior described.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
serial
- ✗
the play uses 'delegate_to' incorrectly
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect use of 'delegate_to' might affect task execution but would not cause the playbook to stop after one host unless it results in an error or changes the host pattern.
- ✗
the playbook does not have any task that triggers the next batch, and 'serial' only controls concurrency, not retry
Why it's wrong here
While 'serial: 1' controls concurrency, it does not stop execution after one batch; Ansible automatically proceeds to the next host after the current batch completes. This option is incorrect because it suggests that 'serial' alone causes the playbook to stop.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
In the Red Hat RHCE exam, examinees may overthink the behavior of 'serial' and forget to check the inventory size. The trap is assuming 'serial: 1' somehow stops the playbook, whereas the real cause is often a single-host inventory.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
A 'failed_when' condition would cause the play to stop on failure, but it would not normally result in PLAY RECAP showing only one host unless all hosts fail. The scenario describes a successful run on one host.
Scenario analysis trap
A 'failed_when' condition would cause the play to stop on failure, but it would not normally result in PLAY RECAP showing only one host unless all hosts fail. The scenario describes a successful run on one host.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `serial` controls the `forks` mechanism in Ansible's execution strategy, limiting the number of hosts in a batch to the specified value. However, Ansible's default behavior is to run the playbook once per batch; if the playbook completes successfully on the first batch, it does not automatically re-run for the next batch unless the playbook is designed to loop over the inventory (e.g., using `hosts: all` and `serial`). In a real-world scenario, if you use `serial: 1` with a playbook that has a single play targeting `hosts: all`, Ansible will execute the play on each host sequentially, but if the playbook stops after the first host, it suggests the playbook was run with a limited scope (e.g., `--limit` or a static host list) or the playbook's `hosts` directive only matched one host.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- serial
- PLAY RECAP
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
serial
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. serial 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.
Review serial, then practise related EX294 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Implement advanced Ansible automation — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Implement advanced Ansible automation practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All EX294 questions
528 questions across all exam domains
- →
Red Hat Certified Engineer EX294 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
EX294 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related EX294 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Deploy Ansible Automation Platform practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to Deploy Ansible Automation Platform.
Manage inventories and credentials practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to Manage inventories and credentials.
Manage task execution and roles practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to Manage task execution and roles.
Coordinate rolling updates practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to Coordinate rolling updates.
Transform data with filters and plugins practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to Transform data with filters and plugins.
Create content collections and execution environments practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to Create content collections and execution environments.
Implement advanced Ansible automation practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to Implement advanced Ansible automation.
Manage automation security and operations practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to Manage automation security and operations.
EX294 fundamentals practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to EX294 fundamentals.
EX294 scenario practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to EX294 scenario.
EX294 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise EX294 questions linked to EX294 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free EX294 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX294 question test?
Implement advanced Ansible automation — This question tests Implement advanced Ansible automation — serial.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: the inventory contains only one host — The `serial: 1` directive in Ansible limits concurrency to one host at a time, but the playbook will still process all hosts in the inventory. If the playbook stops after the first host and shows PLAY RECAP with only one host, the most likely reason is that the inventory contains only one host. With a single host, the play executes on that host and then finishes. Option B accurately identifies this scenario.
What should I do if I get this EX294 question wrong?
Review serial, then practise related EX294 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first", "most likely". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
serial
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More EX294 practice questions
- A systems administrator is securing Ansible automation. Which two practices help protect sensitive data in playbooks? (C…
- A workflow template in automation controller consists of three job templates that must run sequentially with different c…
- Refer to the exhibit. A playbook fails with the given error. What is the most likely cause?
- An Ansible automation team is designing a playbook to manage network devices. They need to ensure that the playbook can…
- A systems administrator needs to run a playbook that applies configuration changes to a set of servers. They want to ens…
- An organization requires that all Ansible playbooks be executed using a specific service account that has limited permis…
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.