- A
Implement the ansible-cmdb tool to generate a CMDB from gathered facts.
ansible-cmdb centralizes system information, reducing the need for repeated fact gathering.
- B
Enable fact caching using a Redis backend.
Fact caching stores gathered facts across runs, reducing the need to gather facts repeatedly.
- C
Use the serial keyword to limit concurrent execution to 1 host at a time.
Why wrong: Serial reduces concurrency, which typically reduces performance.
- D
Set forks to 50 in ansible.cfg to maximize parallel execution.
Why wrong: Increasing forks too high may cause performance degradation due to network or control node limits.
- E
Set gathering = explicit in ansible.cfg to skip fact gathering.
Why wrong: Skipping fact gathering may cause playbooks to miss necessary variables, leading to inaccuracies.
EX294 Implement advanced Ansible automation Practice Question
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of implement advanced ansible automation. 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.
An Ansible Automation Platform administrator is reviewing a job template that runs a playbook against a large inventory. To improve performance without sacrificing accuracy, which TWO strategies should be implemented? (Choose two.)
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
Implement the ansible-cmdb tool to generate a CMDB from gathered facts.
Option A is correct because the ansible-cmdb tool generates a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) from gathered facts, which can be used for documentation and analysis without re-running fact gathering on every playbook execution. Option B is correct because enabling fact caching with a Redis backend stores gathered facts in a fast, external cache, allowing subsequent playbook runs to reuse cached facts instead of gathering them again from each host, which significantly reduces execution time for large inventories.
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.
- ✓
Implement the ansible-cmdb tool to generate a CMDB from gathered facts.
Why this is correct
ansible-cmdb centralizes system information, reducing the need for repeated fact gathering.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable fact caching using a Redis backend.
Why this is correct
Fact caching stores gathered facts across runs, reducing the need to gather facts repeatedly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the serial keyword to limit concurrent execution to 1 host at a time.
Why it's wrong here
Serial reduces concurrency, which typically reduces performance.
- ✗
Set forks to 50 in ansible.cfg to maximize parallel execution.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing forks too high may cause performance degradation due to network or control node limits.
- ✗
Set gathering = explicit in ansible.cfg to skip fact gathering.
Why it's wrong here
Skipping fact gathering may cause playbooks to miss necessary variables, leading to inaccuracies.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'improving performance' with 'increasing parallelism' (Option D) or 'skipping facts entirely' (Option E), without realizing that fact caching preserves accuracy while reducing redundant work, and that ansible-cmdb is a documentation tool, not a runtime performance enhancer.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Fact caching with Redis uses the cache plugin architecture in Ansible, where facts are stored as JSON in Redis keys with a configurable timeout (e.g., cache_timeout = 3600 seconds). The ansible-cmdb tool parses the output of the setup module (typically from a fact cache or ad-hoc run) and generates HTML or CSV reports, but it does not itself improve runtime performance—it is a post-processing tool. In large environments, combining fact caching with a Redis backend can reduce playbook execution time by 50-80% for subsequent runs, as fact gathering is often the most time-consuming task.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Implement the ansible-cmdb tool to generate a CMDB from gathered facts. — Option A is correct because the ansible-cmdb tool generates a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) from gathered facts, which can be used for documentation and analysis without re-running fact gathering on every playbook execution. Option B is correct because enabling fact caching with a Redis backend stores gathered facts in a fast, external cache, allowing subsequent playbook runs to reuse cached facts instead of gathering them again from each host, which significantly reduces execution time for large inventories.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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