Cisco CCNA (200-301) — All Questions

A REST API call returns HTTP status code 200. What does this indicate?

• a.The requested resource could not be found
• b.The request succeeded✓
• c.Authentication was required but not provided
• d.The server encountered an internal error

A 200 (OK) status means the request was processed successfully and the response contains the expected data. The 2xx family signals success, while 4xx indicates client errors and 5xx indicates server errors.

A REST API returns HTTP status code 401. What does it mean?

• a.A new resource was created as a result of the request
• b.The destination server is temporarily unavailable
• c.The request completed successfully with data returned
• d.Authentication is required or the supplied credentials failed✓

A 401 (Unauthorized) response indicates the client must authenticate or that the provided credentials were rejected. It is distinct from 403 (forbidden), where the identity is known but access is still denied.

Which data format uses indentation (whitespace) rather than braces to denote structure and is common in Ansible playbooks?

• a.JSON, which relies on braces and brackets for structure
• b.CSV, which separates flat records with commas
• c.YAML✓
• d.XML, which delimits every element with paired tags

YAML uses indentation to represent hierarchy, making it very human-readable, which is why Ansible playbooks are written in it. JSON uses braces and brackets, and XML wraps data in tags.

Which data-encoding format uses opening and closing tags to delimit every element?

• a.CSV, which uses commas to separate simple fields
• b.XML✓
• c.JSON, which uses key/value pairs inside braces
• d.YAML, which uses indentation to show hierarchy

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) wraps each piece of data between matching opening and closing tags, producing a verbose but strictly structured document. NETCONF, for example, encodes its data in XML.

In an SDN architecture, what does the controller's northbound interface (API) connect to?

• a.Applications and orchestration or automation tools✓
• b.The out-of-band console ports of the devices
• c.The forwarding ASICs inside each switch
• d.The physical network devices in the data plane

The northbound interface exposes APIs so applications and orchestration systems can express intent to the controller. The southbound interface, by contrast, is what the controller uses to program the network devices.

Which configuration-management tools traditionally use an agent-based, pull model with a central master server?

• a.Puppet and Chef✓
• b.Terraform and raw YAML files
• c.Ansible and plain Bash scripting
• d.NETCONF and RESTCONF protocols

Puppet and Chef historically install an agent on each managed node that periodically pulls its desired configuration from a master. Ansible differs by being agentless and pushing configuration over SSH.

Which protocol uses SSH as its transport and XML-encoded data to configure network devices programmatically?

• a.RESTCONF, which runs over HTTP instead of SSH
• b.SNMP, which is chiefly used for monitoring devices
• c.Syslog, which only carries event log messages
• d.NETCONF✓

NETCONF runs over SSH and exchanges configuration and state data encoded in XML, supporting reliable, transactional changes. RESTCONF offers similar functionality but over HTTP using JSON or XML.

What is the main function of a network controller such as Cisco Catalyst Center (formerly DNA Center) in intent-based networking?

• a.It replaces every physical switch with a virtual appliance
• b.It serves only as the network's central DHCP server
• c.It merely stores periodic backups of device configs
• d.It translates business intent into device configurations and monitors assurance centrally✓

An intent-based controller lets operators express high-level intent, which it renders into specific device configurations, then continuously verifies the network is meeting that intent through assurance and telemetry. It centralizes automation and monitoring rather than replacing hardware.