This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of manage automation security and operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A playbook using the 'uri' module is timing out when connecting to an external API. The network team confirms connectivity. What Ansible configuration parameter can be adjusted to increase the timeout?
validate_certs
Why wrong: Controls SSL certificate validation, not timeout.
retries
Why wrong: Used in loop retry, not connection timeout.
ansible_timeout
Sets the timeout for connections.
delay
Why wrong: Used in loop delays, not timeout.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ansible_timeout
Option C is correct because `ansible_timeout` is an Ansible configuration parameter that controls the default socket-level timeout for network connections, including those made by the `uri` module. When an external API is slow to respond, increasing this value (default 10 seconds) allows the playbook to wait longer before aborting the connection attempt.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
validate_certs
Why it's wrong here
Controls SSL certificate validation, not timeout.
retries
Why it's wrong here
Used in loop retry, not connection timeout.
ansible_timeout
Why this is correct
Sets the timeout for connections.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
delay
Why it's wrong here
Used in loop delays, not timeout.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse `ansible_timeout` with module-specific parameters like `retries` or `delay`, thinking those control the initial connection timeout when they actually only affect behavior after a failure.
Detailed technical explanation
The `ansible_timeout` parameter sets the `timeout` option in the underlying Python `urllib3` or `requests` library, which controls the socket-level timeout for establishing a TCP connection and receiving data. In real-world scenarios, a slow API behind a load balancer or with high latency may need a timeout of 30–60 seconds, and this parameter can be set in `ansible.cfg` under `[defaults]` or as an environment variable `ANSIBLE_TIMEOUT`.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Manage automation security and operations — This question tests Manage automation security and operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ansible_timeout — Option C is correct because `ansible_timeout` is an Ansible configuration parameter that controls the default socket-level timeout for network connections, including those made by the `uri` module. When an external API is slow to respond, increasing this value (default 10 seconds) allows the playbook to wait longer before aborting the connection attempt.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 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.
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