CCNA AI and Network Operations Practice Question
A network engineer is using a Python script with the requests library to interact with a Cisco DNA Center REST API. The script must retrieve a list of network devices and then filter for those with a specific software version. Which HTTP method and endpoint pattern should the engineer use for the initial retrieval?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming a filter must be sent to the server; many APIs return full collections that the client filters locally, and using POST or DELETE for retrieval is incorrect.
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
✓
GET to /dna/intent/api/v1/network-device and then filter the JSON response locally.
The correct approach is to use GET on the network-device endpoint to retrieve all devices, then filter the JSON response for the desired software version. GET is safe and idempotent, aligning with REST principles for read operations. POST, PUT, and DELETE are used for create, update, and delete actions, respectively, and would not achieve the retrieval goal.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
GET to /dna/intent/api/v1/network-device and then filter the JSON response locally.
Why this is correct
Cisco DNA Center exposes GET /dna/intent/api/v1/network-device to retrieve all devices. The response is a JSON array containing device attributes such as softwareVersion. The engineer can then filter locally for the specific version. This is the standard RESTful approach for read operations and avoids unnecessary complexity or unsupported query parameters.
- ✗
DELETE to /dna/intent/api/v1/network-device?softwareVersion=17.3.1 to remove non-matching devices.
Why it's wrong here
DELETE removes resources and is completely inappropriate for a retrieval task. This would attempt to delete device records matching the query, causing severe operational impact. The scenario asks to retrieve and filter, not delete. Using DELETE here is a dangerous misunderstanding of HTTP methods.
- ✗
PUT to /dna/intent/api/v1/network-device with the version as a path parameter.
Why it's wrong here
PUT is used to update or replace an existing resource, not to retrieve a list. Using PUT would attempt to modify device records, which is incorrect and potentially destructive. The endpoint does not accept a version filter as a path parameter for retrieval. The engineer needs a safe, idempotent GET request instead.
- ✗
POST to /dna/intent/api/v1/network-device with a JSON body containing the version filter.
Why it's wrong here
POST is used to create resources or invoke actions, not for simple retrieval. While some APIs allow POST for complex queries, Cisco DNA Center's network-device endpoint typically uses GET for retrieval. Sending a POST with a filter body may not be supported and could create unintended state. The engineer should use GET for read-only operations.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Python Network Automation
Key term
JSON
JSON is a lightweight, text-based format for storing and exchanging data that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate.
Key term
HTTP
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the set of rules web browsers and servers use to communicate and transfer web pages over the internet.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 200-301 exam.