- A
Manually delete each pod and let the StatefulSet recreate them with the new image.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Manual deletion is error-prone and does not guarantee the order of updates; it also does not leverage the built-in rolling update mechanism.
- B
Use the default rolling update with partition=0; the StatefulSet will update one pod at a time automatically.
Correct: The default RollingUpdate strategy for StatefulSet updates one pod at a time, ensuring only one replica is unavailable at any moment, meeting the requirement.
- C
Set maxUnavailable to 2 to speed up the rollout, then update the image.
Why wrong: Incorrect: This would allow two pods to be unavailable at the same time, potentially degrading performance.
- D
Perform a canary update by setting partition to 2, updating one pod, validating, then setting partition to 0.
Why wrong: Incorrect: This approach is valid but adds complexity and time beyond the 30-minute window; the default rolling update is sufficient and faster.
EX294 Coordinate rolling updates Practice Question
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of coordinate rolling updates. 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.
You are managing a Kubernetes cluster running a critical stateful application deployed as a StatefulSet with 3 replicas. The application uses persistent volumes with ReadWriteOnce access mode. You need to update the container image from version 1.0 to 1.1. The application's performance degrades if more than one replica is unavailable at any time. The StatefulSet is configured with the default RollingUpdate strategy (partition=0). You have a maintenance window of 30 minutes. The update must be completed within the window with minimal risk. Which of the following approaches should you take?
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
Use the default rolling update with partition=0; the StatefulSet will update one pod at a time automatically.
Option B is correct because the default RollingUpdate strategy with partition=0 updates one pod at a time, ensuring that no more than one replica is unavailable at any moment. This matches the application's constraint that performance degrades if more than one replica is unavailable, and the 30-minute window is sufficient for a rolling update of 3 pods.
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.
- ✗
Manually delete each pod and let the StatefulSet recreate them with the new image.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Manual deletion is error-prone and does not guarantee the order of updates; it also does not leverage the built-in rolling update mechanism.
- ✓
Use the default rolling update with partition=0; the StatefulSet will update one pod at a time automatically.
Why this is correct
Correct: The default RollingUpdate strategy for StatefulSet updates one pod at a time, ensuring only one replica is unavailable at any moment, meeting the requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set maxUnavailable to 2 to speed up the rollout, then update the image.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This would allow two pods to be unavailable at the same time, potentially degrading performance.
- ✗
Perform a canary update by setting partition to 2, updating one pod, validating, then setting partition to 0.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This approach is valid but adds complexity and time beyond the 30-minute window; the default rolling update is sufficient and faster.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think a canary update (Option D) is safer, but they overlook that setting partition to 0 after the canary triggers a full rollout that updates remaining pods concurrently, violating the 'no more than one replica unavailable' constraint.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
StatefulSet's RollingUpdate strategy updates pods in reverse ordinal order (highest to lowest) by default, ensuring that only one pod is updated at a time when partition is 0. The partition parameter controls the boundary: pods with ordinal >= partition are updated, so setting partition to 2 updates only pod-2, but then setting partition to 0 updates pods 1 and 0 simultaneously, which violates the constraint. Under the hood, the StatefulSet controller uses the same rolling update logic as Deployments but respects pod identity and persistent volume claims.
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: Use the default rolling update with partition=0; the StatefulSet will update one pod at a time automatically. — Option B is correct because the default RollingUpdate strategy with partition=0 updates one pod at a time, ensuring that no more than one replica is unavailable at any moment. This matches the application's constraint that performance degrades if more than one replica is unavailable, and the 30-minute window is sufficient for a rolling update of 3 pods.
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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