EX294 Transform data with filters and plugins Practice Question
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of transform data with filters and plugins. 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 run a playbook with `msg: "{{ 'mypassword' | password_hash('sha512') }}"`. What is the output?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A hashed representation of the password using SHA-512.
Option C is correct because the `password_hash` filter in Ansible uses the `passlib` library (when available) to generate a cryptographically hashed representation of the input string. When the hash type is specified as `'sha512'`, it produces a SHA-512 crypt hash (typically starting with `$6$`), not the original plaintext. This is a standard Ansible filter for securely transforming passwords into hashed formats for use in user modules or configuration files.
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.
✗
An error because password_hash requires the `passlib` library.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; password_hash is built-in and does not require extra libraries.
✗
A random alphanumeric string.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; the output is a hash in a specific format.
✓
A hashed representation of the password using SHA-512.
Why this is correct
Correct; password_hash returns a salted SHA-512 hash.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The string 'mypassword' unchanged.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; password_hash transforms the string.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think `password_hash` returns a random string (Option B) because the salt is random, but the output is a structured hash with a fixed format, not a purely random alphanumeric sequence.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect; the output is a hash in a specific format.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `password_hash('sha512')` generates a random 16-character salt (using `os.urandom` or similar) and computes the SHA-512 crypt hash per the `crypt` module's `crypt.crypt()` function, producing a string like `$6$rounds=5000$usesalt$hash`. This is the same format used by `/etc/shadow` on Linux systems. A real-world scenario is setting user passwords in Ansible playbooks: `password: "{{ 'secret' | password_hash('sha512') }}"` ensures the stored hash is compatible with system authentication, avoiding plaintext exposure.
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.
Transform data with filters and plugins — This question tests Transform data with filters and plugins — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A hashed representation of the password using SHA-512. — Option C is correct because the `password_hash` filter in Ansible uses the `passlib` library (when available) to generate a cryptographically hashed representation of the input string. When the hash type is specified as `'sha512'`, it produces a SHA-512 crypt hash (typically starting with `$6$`), not the original plaintext. This is a standard Ansible filter for securely transforming passwords into hashed formats for use in user modules or configuration files.
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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