EX294 Deploy Ansible Automation Platform Practice Question
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of deploy ansible automation platform. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 enterprise is running Ansible Automation Platform with automation mesh across three data centers. Each data center has a control node and multiple execution nodes. The mesh topology is set up with `node_type: control` for control nodes and `node_type: execution` for execution nodes. The nodes in DC2 can reach nodes in DC1 and DC3, but DC1 and DC3 cannot directly reach each other. The admin notices that jobs that require execution on DC3 are being scheduled on DC1 or DC2, causing slow performance. The admin checks the mesh node list and sees all nodes are healthy. What should the admin do to ensure jobs are executed geographically closest to the target nodes?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure `node_policy` to set `topology=dc3` on execution nodes in DC3 so the controller can route jobs based on proximity.
Option D is correct because `node_policy` with `topology` allows administrators to define geographic or logical proximity hints for execution nodes. By setting `topology=dc3` on DC3 nodes, the automation controller can intelligently route jobs to the nearest available execution node, reducing latency without requiring direct network connectivity between DC1 and DC3.
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.
✗
Establish a direct VPN link between DC1 and DC3 to reduce latency.
Why it's wrong here
Network path is irrelevant if scheduling does not prefer nearest node.
✗
Change the `node_type` of DC3 execution nodes to `control` to make them preferred.
Why it's wrong here
Control nodes are for management, not execution; this would break capacity.
✗
Create host labels to tag nodes by data center and assign job templates accordingly.
Why it's wrong here
Labels do not affect mesh routing; they are for inventory grouping.
✓
Configure `node_policy` to set `topology=dc3` on execution nodes in DC3 so the controller can route jobs based on proximity.
Why this is correct
Node policy helps controller select nodes based on network topology.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse network-level solutions (VPN) or static labeling (host labels) with the dynamic, controller-driven routing provided by `node_policy`, which is the intended mechanism for geographic job placement in automation mesh.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `node_policy` `topology` setting in automation mesh uses a user-defined string (e.g., 'dc3') to group nodes by location. The controller then prefers execution nodes with the same topology value as the control node initiating the job, enabling latency-aware scheduling. This is part of the mesh's peer-to-peer routing, where each node maintains a connection table and the controller selects the closest healthy node based on the topology hint.
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.
Deploy Ansible Automation Platform — This question tests Deploy Ansible Automation Platform — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure `node_policy` to set `topology=dc3` on execution nodes in DC3 so the controller can route jobs based on proximity. — Option D is correct because `node_policy` with `topology` allows administrators to define geographic or logical proximity hints for execution nodes. By setting `topology=dc3` on DC3 nodes, the automation controller can intelligently route jobs to the nearest available execution node, reducing latency without requiring direct network connectivity between DC1 and DC3.
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.
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Question Discussion
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