CompTIA Cloud+ (CV0-004)DevOps FundamentalsMedium
A systems administrator runs the same configuration management playbook against a server multiple times. Each execution produces the same end result and causes no errors or unintended changes, even if the server already matches the desired configuration. Which principle does this describe?
- AOrchestration
- BIdempotency
- CVersion control
- DContinuous delivery
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Idempotency
Idempotency means an operation can be applied repeatedly without changing the result beyond the initial application, which is a core design principle of configuration management tools like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Orchestration coordinates multiple automated tasks or systems, not the repeatability of a single operation.
- C. Version control tracks changes to code/configuration files over time, unrelated to repeated execution safety.
- D. Continuous delivery focuses on keeping software release-ready, not the safety of repeated configuration runs.
Idempotency
A property where applying the same operation multiple times produces the same result as applying it once, without unintended side effects.
- Core principle of configuration management tools
- Prevents configuration drift from repeated runs
- Enables safe re-execution of automation scripts
Memory trick: Press the elevator button as many times as you want — it still just goes to the same floor once.