EX294 Practice Question: Create content collections and execution environments
Which TWO statements about Ansible Execution Environments (EE) are true?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the purpose of execution environments (packaging and running automation) with module development, or assume that `ansible-navigator` is the only way to use them, when in fact they are container images that can be used with multiple Ansible tools.
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
✓
Execution environments are container images built with ansible-builder.
Option C is correct because Ansible Execution Environments are defined in an execution-environment.yml file and built into container images using the ansible-builder tool, producing OCI-compliant images that bundle everything needed to run automation. Option D is correct because an EE image packages ansible-core, the required Ansible collections, and their Python dependencies (plus system packages) into a single portable container, ensuring consistent runtime environments. Option A is incorrect because EEs are runtime artifacts for executing playbooks and roles, not a development framework for authoring new modules. Option B is incorrect because ansible-navigator is a CLI tool that consumes EEs, not the default entrypoint inside the image (the entrypoint is typically the ansible-runner based execution). Option E is incorrect because EEs are standard container images and can be run with podman, docker, ansible-runner, AWX/Controller, and other tools, not exclusively ansible-navigator.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Execution environments are primarily used for developing new Ansible modules.
Why it's wrong here
Execution environments package collections, Python dependencies and a base image for consistent playbook runtime; they do not provide module authoring tooling. It tempts because building an EE does involve installing collections containing custom modules, which is mistaken for the development workflow itself.
- ✗
Execution environments use ansible-navigator as the default entrypoint.
Why it's wrong here
Ansible Execution Environments are container images defined by an execution-environment.yml file; ansible-navigator is a separate CLI that consumes them, not their entrypoint. It tempts because ansible-navigator is the standard tool for running playbooks inside an EE, so the two are easily conflated.
- ✓
Execution environments are container images built with ansible-builder.
Why this is correct
Ansible-builder is the supported tool that assembles execution environments, producing a container image from an execution-environment definition file. The resulting image is what ansible-navigator or AWX runs, satisfying the requirement that EEs are container images.
- ✓
Execution environments package Ansible Core, collections, and Python dependencies.
Why this is correct
An execution environment image bundles ansible-core, the required collections, and their Python dependencies into one portable artefact. This packaging removes dependency drift between control and managed nodes, ensuring consistent module and plugin versions during playbook runs.
- ✗
Execution environments can only be used with the ansible-navigator command-line tool.
Why it's wrong here
Execution environments are OCI container images consumed by ansible-runner, ansible-playbook via ansible-navigator, AWX and Red Hat Automation Controller; only ansible-navigator is a false restriction. It tempts because ansible-navigator is the tool most associated with EEs, and it would be correct if the question asked which CLI is purpose-built to run playbooks inside EEs.
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