CCNA AI and Network Operations Practice Question

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✗

  DELETE

  Why it's wrong here

  DELETE is wrong because it is an HTTP method whose sole purpose is to remove the identified resource from the server. Issuing DELETE against a network device would attempt to delete the configuration or the resource path itself, not return its contents. Even if the request were denied, it represents a state-changing operation, which directly contradicts the requirement to merely retrieve the current configuration.

  When this WOULD be correct

  In a different scenario where the question asks for the method to remove a specific configuration setting from a device's REST API, the DELETE method would be correct. For example, if the question stated, 'An automation script must remove a specific configuration from a device using a REST API,' then DELETE would be the appropriate choice.

• ✓

  GET

  Why this is correct

  GET is the correct choice because it is a safe, idempotent HTTP method defined by RFC 7231 specifically for retrieving the current representation of a resource. It performs no state change on the server, so the script can fetch the running configuration without risking any modification. The response body carries the requested configuration data, making GET the semantically exact operation for a read-only retrieval.

• ✗

  PUT

  Why it's wrong here

  PUT is wrong because it is designed to replace or create a resource using the payload sent in the request body, not to fetch one. In network automation, PUT would overwrite the entire configuration with whatever data the script supplies, causing an unintended change. Although PUT is idempotent, its idempotency applies to repeated writes, and it cannot serve as a read operation for retrieving the existing configuration.

  When this WOULD be correct

  In a different scenario where the question asks for the method to update the configuration state of a device using a REST API, the PUT method would be correct, as it is specifically designed for resource updates.

• ✗

  POST

  Why it's wrong here

  POST is wrong because it is intended for submitting data to be processed, typically creating a new subordinate resource or triggering an action on the server. Using POST to retrieve configuration would either create an unwanted object or execute an operation, both of which violate the requirement for a non-mutating read. Unlike GET, POST is not defined as a safe or idempotent method, so it cannot reliably be used to simply return the current configuration.

  When this WOULD be correct

  If the exam question asked which HTTP method should be used to send data to a server to create a new resource based on the current configuration state, then POST would be the correct answer.

Option-by-option analysis

Why each answer is right or wrong

Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.

Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”