ACL questions test your ability to read, write, and place access lists correctly. They appear as configuration tasks, troubleshooting scenarios, and exhibit-based questions showing ACL output. The CCNA covers standard and extended ACLs for both IPv4 and IPv6.
Start Scenario PracticeWhen using the 'access-group' command to apply an ACL to an interface, what is the default direction if none is specified?
Explanation: The 'access-group' command in Cisco IOS requires a direction keyword (either 'in' or 'out') to specify whether the ACL filters inbound or outbound traffic. If no direction is provided, the command is rejected with an error message because the direction is a mandatory parameter. This behavior is consistent across all Cisco IOS versions and platforms.
An engineer configures an IPsec VPN between two routers using a transform-set with ESP encryption (AES 256) and ESP authentication (SHA-256). The engineer also applies an IPv4 ACL to define interesting traffic that matches all IP traffic. After configuration, the VPN tunnel comes up, but only ICMP traffic is encrypted; other traffic like HTTP is sent in clear text. What is the most likely explanation?
Explanation: The most likely explanation is that the ACL for interesting traffic only permits ICMP, so only ICMP is encrypted. In Cisco IOS, the crypto map uses the ACL to identify which traffic should be protected by IPsec. If the ACL only matches ICMP (e.g., 'permit icmp any any'), then only ICMP packets trigger IPsec encryption; all other traffic, such as HTTP, is forwarded in clear text because it does not match the ACL and is therefore not subject to IPsec processing.
On a DMVPN Phase 2 hub-and-spoke network, an engineer applies an inbound IPv4 ACL on the tunnel interface of a spoke router to permit only traffic from specific spoke IPs. After the ACL is applied, the spoke cannot establish a direct spoke-to-spoke tunnel with another spoke, even though NHRP resolution succeeds. What is the most likely explanation?
Explanation: In a DMVPN Phase 2 network, spoke-to-spoke traffic is encapsulated in a new IP header with the destination IP set to the target spoke's public address. When an inbound ACL is applied to the spoke's tunnel interface, it filters traffic after decapsulation, meaning it inspects the inner (original) IP header. However, the ACL is applied on the physical interface or the tunnel interface in a way that inadvertently filters the outer IP header of the mGRE tunnel, blocking the encapsulated spoke-to-spoke packets before they can be processed. Since NHRP resolution succeeds, the spoke knows the peer's address, but the actual data traffic is dropped because the ACL denies the outer encapsulation.
An engineer configures mutual redistribution between OSPF and EIGRP on a router. Both protocols have routes for the same prefix. The engineer also applies an inbound ACL on the OSPF interface to deny certain routes from being learned via OSPF. After the ACL is applied, the router still has the prefix in the routing table, but it is learned via EIGRP instead of OSPF. What is the most likely explanation?
Explanation: The inbound ACL on the OSPF interface blocks the OSPF-learned route from being installed in the routing table. Since mutual redistribution is configured, the same prefix is also learned via EIGRP. EIGRP has a default administrative distance (AD) of 90 for internal routes, which is lower than OSPF's AD of 110. Therefore, the router selects the EIGRP route as the best path, and the prefix remains in the routing table but now points to the EIGRP next hop.
A network engineer is troubleshooting an IPv6 connectivity issue on a router that is receiving routes via EIGRP for IPv6. The engineer notices that some routes are not being installed in the routing table, even though the EIGRP neighbor relationship is established. The engineer checks the interface configuration and finds an inbound IPv6 ACL that permits only certain EIGRP packets. The ACL permits EIGRP hello packets and updates, but not EIGRP queries or replies. What is the most likely cause of the missing routes?
Explanation: EIGRP for IPv6 uses multicast address FF02::A for all EIGRP packets, including hello, update, query, and reply. The ACL permits only hello and update packets, blocking query and reply packets. EIGRP requires query and reply packets for the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) to converge and install routes; without them, the router cannot complete the route installation process, even though the neighbor relationship is established.
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Practice all Access Control List (ACL) ScenariosACL questions test your ability to read, write, and place access lists correctly. They appear as configuration tasks, troubleshooting scenarios, and exhibit-based questions showing ACL output. The CCNA covers standard and extended ACLs for both IPv4 and IPv6. These appear throughout the 300-410 and require you to apply your knowledge, not just recall facts.
Cisco doesn't publish an exact breakdown, but scenario-based questions (especially exhibit and command-output formats) make up a significant portion of the 300-410. Practicing each scenario type ensures you're ready for any format.
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