Question 181 of 518

Coordinate rolling updates →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

EX294 Coordinate rolling updates Practice Question

This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of coordinate rolling updates. 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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

PLAY [Update web servers] ********************************************************

TASK [Gathering Facts] *********************************************************
ok: [web1.example.com]
ok: [web2.example.com]
ok: [web3.example.com]

TASK [Update Apache config] ****************************************************
changed: [web1.example.com] => {
    "changed": true,
    "msg": "Config updated"
}
changed: [web2.example.com] => {
    "changed": true,
    "msg": "Config updated"
}
failed: [web3.example.com] => {
    "changed": false,
    "msg": "Permission denied"
}

TASK [Restart Apache] **********************************************************
ok: [web1.example.com] => {
    "changed": true,
    "msg": "Service restarted"
}
ok: [web2.example.com] => {
    "changed": true,
    "msg": "Service restarted"
}
skipping: [web3.example.com]

PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
web1.example.com : ok=3    changed=2    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0
web2.example.com : ok=3    changed=2    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0
web3.example.com : ok=1    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=1    skipped=1    rescued=0    ignored=0

Refer to the exhibit. The playbook uses serial: 1 (one host at a time). The update failed on web3.example.com. Based on the output, what is the most likely reason the play did not abort the rollout and how should the playbook be modified to stop on failure?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Read the full Ansible explanation →

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

PLAY [Update web servers] ********************************************************

TASK [Gathering Facts] *********************************************************
ok: [web1.example.com]
ok: [web2.example.com]
ok: [web3.example.com]

TASK [Update Apache config] ****************************************************
changed: [web1.example.com] => {
    "changed": true,
    "msg": "Config updated"
}
changed: [web2.example.com] => {
    "changed": true,
    "msg": "Config updated"
}
failed: [web3.example.com] => {
    "changed": false,
    "msg": "Permission denied"
}

TASK [Restart Apache] **********************************************************
ok: [web1.example.com] => {
    "changed": true,
    "msg": "Service restarted"
}
ok: [web2.example.com] => {
    "changed": true,
    "msg": "Service restarted"
}
skipping: [web3.example.com]

PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
web1.example.com : ok=3    changed=2    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0
web2.example.com : ok=3    changed=2    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0
web3.example.com : ok=1    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=1    skipped=1    rescued=0    ignored=0

A
Add retries: 3 to the 'Update Apache config' task.
Why wrong: Retries may help transient failures but do not abort the rollout on persistent failure.
B
Set ignore_errors: yes on the 'Update Apache config' task.
Why wrong: ignore_errors would make the play continue, not abort.
C
Add max_fail_percentage: 0 to the play to abort on any failure.
max_fail_percentage: 0 aborts the play if any host fails, preventing inconsistent state.
D
Increase the serial value to update multiple hosts at once.
Why wrong: Increasing serial does not abort on failure; it may even cause more failures.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Add max_fail_percentage: 0 to the play to abort on any failure.

Option C is correct because the play uses `serial: 1` to update one host at a time, but by default Ansible continues to the next host even if a task fails on the current host. Setting `max_fail_percentage: 0` at the play level tells Ansible to abort the entire play immediately if any host fails, which is the intended behavior for a rolling update where a single failure should stop the rollout.

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.

✗
Add retries: 3 to the 'Update Apache config' task.
Why it's wrong here
Retries may help transient failures but do not abort the rollout on persistent failure.
✗
Set ignore_errors: yes on the 'Update Apache config' task.
Why it's wrong here
ignore_errors would make the play continue, not abort.
✓
Add max_fail_percentage: 0 to the play to abort on any failure.
Why this is correct
max_fail_percentage: 0 aborts the play if any host fails, preventing inconsistent state.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the serial value to update multiple hosts at once.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing serial does not abort on failure; it may even cause more failures.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Red Hat often tests the distinction between per-task error handling (`ignore_errors`, `retries`) and play-level failure thresholds (`max_fail_percentage`), and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think retrying a task or ignoring errors will stop the rollout, when in fact only `max_fail_percentage` controls whether the play aborts across hosts.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The `max_fail_percentage` directive is evaluated at the end of each batch (defined by `serial`). When set to 0, if any host in the current batch fails, the play is aborted immediately without proceeding to the next batch. This is particularly important in rolling updates where a failure on one host might indicate a systemic issue (e.g., a bad configuration template) that would affect all subsequent hosts. Under the hood, Ansible tracks the failure count per batch and compares it to the percentage threshold; if the threshold is exceeded, it raises an `Abort` exception that halts the play execution.

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?

Coordinate rolling updates — This question tests Coordinate rolling updates — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Add max_fail_percentage: 0 to the play to abort on any failure. — Option C is correct because the play uses `serial: 1` to update one host at a time, but by default Ansible continues to the next host even if a task fails on the current host. Setting `max_fail_percentage: 0` at the play level tells Ansible to abort the entire play immediately if any host fails, which is the intended behavior for a rolling update where a single failure should stop the rollout.

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.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026

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