EX294 Practice Question: Create content collections and execution environments
An organization's execution environment must include a custom RPM that is not in the default base image. How should this be added in the execution-environment.yml?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse the 'system' and 'python' dependency sections, mistakenly thinking RPMs can be added under 'python' because both are under 'dependencies', but 'python' is strictly for pip-installable packages.
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
✓
Add the RPM to the 'dependencies' section under 'system'.
In an execution-environment.yml file, custom RPM packages that are not part of the default base image must be listed under the 'dependencies' section with the 'system' key. This instructs ansible-builder to install those RPMs using the system package manager (e.g., dnf or yum) during the build process, ensuring the execution environment includes the required system-level libraries or tools.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Add the RPM to the 'dependencies' section under 'system'.
Why this is correct
The dependencies section's system subsection maps to dnf or microdnf package installation during the build, so listing the RPM there causes ansible-builder to install it into the final image. This satisfies the requirement that the custom RPM be present.
- ✗
Add the RPM to the 'dependencies' section under 'python'.
Why it's wrong here
The python dependencies section installs Python packages via pip, not system RPMs. A custom RPM requires installation through the build steps section of execution-environment.yml. Listing it under python would be correct only for a Python library distributed on PyPI.
- ✗
Use a 'prepended_base' directive.
Why it's wrong here
prepended_base is not a valid execution-environment.yml directive; RPMs are installed via the ansible-builder build steps. The correct approach adds the package through the appropriate build section. A prepended base image would be relevant only when overriding the base image itself, not adding packages.
- ✗
Use a custom base image that includes the RPM.
Why it's wrong here
Building a custom base image adds significant maintenance overhead and is unnecessary when the RPM can be installed during the execution environment build. The build steps section installs extra RPMs directly. A custom base image is correct when the required OS-level packages cannot be layered during the build.
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