- A
Configure the inventory script to use the Ansible cache plugin with a timeout and fallback to cached data.
Cache can serve stale data if API fails.
- B
Wrap the inventory script invocation in a Jinja2 template with error handling.
Why wrong: Jinja2 cannot handle API errors directly.
- C
Use the setup module to gather facts and store them locally as a fallback inventory.
Why wrong: Setup collects facts from existing hosts, not inventory.
- D
Modify the inventory script to retry on failure and write results to a static file.
Why wrong: Retry could work, but it's not an Ansible-provided solution and may still fail.
Question 222 of 528
EX294 Implement advanced Ansible automation 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. 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.
An Ansible Tower/AWX job template uses a custom inventory script that dynamically queries an API. The script returns JSON including groups and hosts. Recently, the API started returning HTTP 500 errors intermittently, causing inventory sync failures. Which Ansible approach can make the inventory source more resilient?
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
✓
Configure the inventory script to use the Ansible cache plugin with a timeout and fallback to cached data.
Option A is correct because the Ansible cache plugin can store the results of a dynamic inventory script and serve them when the API is unavailable. By configuring a timeout and fallback to cached data, the job template avoids failures during transient HTTP 500 errors, ensuring inventory sync resilience without modifying the script itself.
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.
- ✓
Configure the inventory script to use the Ansible cache plugin with a timeout and fallback to cached data.
Why this is correct
Cache can serve stale data if API fails.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Wrap the inventory script invocation in a Jinja2 template with error handling.
Why it's wrong here
Jinja2 cannot handle API errors directly.
- ✗
Use the setup module to gather facts and store them locally as a fallback inventory.
Why it's wrong here
Setup collects facts from existing hosts, not inventory.
- ✗
Modify the inventory script to retry on failure and write results to a static file.
Why it's wrong here
Retry could work, but it's not an Ansible-provided solution and may still fail.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think modifying the script (Option D) is the only way to handle API failures, overlooking Ansible Tower/AWX's built-in caching mechanism that provides a cleaner, more maintainable solution without altering the script's code.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Ansible cache plugin (e.g., jsonfile, redis, or memcached) stores inventory data with a configurable timeout (e.g., `cache_timeout: 3600`). When the API returns a 500 error, the plugin serves the cached data if the timeout hasn't expired, preventing sync failures. This is especially useful in CI/CD pipelines where inventory availability is critical, and it avoids the need to rewrite custom scripts with retry logic.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
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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: Configure the inventory script to use the Ansible cache plugin with a timeout and fallback to cached data. — Option A is correct because the Ansible cache plugin can store the results of a dynamic inventory script and serve them when the API is unavailable. By configuring a timeout and fallback to cached data, the job template avoids failures during transient HTTP 500 errors, ensuring inventory sync resilience without modifying the script itself.
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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