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.
Which TWO Ansible playbook parameters directly control the number of host failures allowed before aborting a rolling update?
max_fail_percentage
Sets the maximum percentage of failed hosts before abort.
any_errors_fatal
If true, any error causes immediate abort, effectively allowing zero failures.
throttle
Why wrong: Limits parallel tasks per host, not failures.
serial
Why wrong: Serial controls batch size, not failure threshold.
ignore_errors
Why wrong: Ignores errors and continues, not a failure limit.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
max_fail_percentage
Option A is correct because `max_fail_percentage` directly specifies the maximum percentage of hosts that can fail during a rolling update before Ansible aborts the entire batch. Option B is correct because `any_errors_fatal` causes the playbook to stop immediately if any host in the current batch fails, effectively limiting failures to zero before aborting the rolling update.
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.
max_fail_percentage
Why this is correct
Sets the maximum percentage of failed hosts before abort.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
any_errors_fatal
Why this is correct
If true, any error causes immediate abort, effectively allowing zero failures.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
throttle
Why it's wrong here
Limits parallel tasks per host, not failures.
serial
Why it's wrong here
Serial controls batch size, not failure threshold.
ignore_errors
Why it's wrong here
Ignores errors and continues, not a failure limit.
Common exam traps
Red Hat often tests the distinction between `serial` (batch size) and `max_fail_percentage` (failure threshold), causing candidates to mistakenly think `serial` controls failure tolerance when it only controls concurrency.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `max_fail_percentage` is evaluated after each batch completes: if the cumulative failed hosts exceed the percentage of the total hosts in the inventory, Ansible aborts the playbook. `any_errors_fatal` works at the batch level — if any host in the current serial batch fails, Ansible immediately stops executing further batches. In a real-world scenario, combining `serial: 1` with `max_fail_percentage: 0` ensures a strict one-host-at-a-time update where any single failure aborts the entire rollout, preventing cascading failures across a fleet of web servers.
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
Coordinate rolling updates — This question tests Coordinate rolling updates — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: max_fail_percentage — Option A is correct because `max_fail_percentage` directly specifies the maximum percentage of hosts that can fail during a rolling update before Ansible aborts the entire batch. Option B is correct because `any_errors_fatal` causes the playbook to stop immediately if any host in the current batch fails, effectively limiting failures to zero before aborting the rolling update.
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 30, 2026
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