EX294 Practice Question: Create content collections and execution environments
An organization uses custom Ansible plugins stored in a collection. A junior admin reports that after updating the collection to version 2.0.0, a playbook that uses a custom filter plugin fails with 'undefined filter'. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume the error is due to syntax or naming (FQCN), but the core issue is the strict directory structure requirement for Ansible plugin loading, which is a fundamental concept in collection development.
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 filter plugin was placed in the wrong directory inside the collection.
In Ansible collections, filter plugins must reside in the `plugins/filter/` directory within the collection structure. If the plugin is placed in the wrong directory (e.g., `plugins/modules/` or `plugins/lookup/`), Ansible will not load it as a filter, resulting in an 'undefined filter' error. The collection update to version 2.0.0 likely reorganized the directory structure, causing the filter to be misplaced.
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The playbook uses an outdated syntax that is incompatible with the new collection.
Why it's wrong here
Version updates typically maintain backward compatibility for filter syntax.
- ✓
The filter plugin was placed in the wrong directory inside the collection.
Why this is correct
Filter plugins must reside in plugins/filter/ directory.
- ✗
The playbook does not use the fully qualified collection name (FQCN) for the filter.
Why it's wrong here
FQCN is not required if the collection is listed in the playbook's collections keyword.
- ✗
The collection's metadata file galaxy.yml is missing a dependency declaration.
Why it's wrong here
Missing dependencies would cause a different error.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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