Question 1mediummulti select
Full question →- → Why each wrong option is wrong in this specific scenario
- → When each wrong option would be correct
- → Real-world analogy and exam trap analysis
- → Related glossary terms and similar practice questions
Question 862 of 1,052
mediummulti selectObjective-mapped
CCNA Practice Question: Which TWO statements correctly describe the…
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of 200-301 exam topics. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO statements correctly describe the configuration of AAA with RADIUS or TACACS+ on Cisco IOS-XE?
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
✓
TACACS+ encrypts the entire body of the packet but leaves the standard TCP header unencrypted.
In Cisco IOS-XE, AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) can be configured using either RADIUS or TACACS+. RADIUS encrypts only the password in the access-request packet, while TACACS+ encrypts the entire body of the packet. Additionally, TACACS+ separates authentication, authorization, and accounting into distinct processes, whereas RADIUS combines authentication and authorization. The correct options highlight these key differences.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
RADIUS encrypts the entire packet payload, including all attributes.
- ✓
TACACS+ encrypts the entire body of the packet but leaves the standard TCP header unencrypted.
- ✗
TACACS+ uses UDP as its transport protocol, while RADIUS uses TCP.
- ✓
TACACS+ separates authentication, authorization, and accounting into three distinct functions, allowing independent server configuration for each.
- ✓
RADIUS combines authentication and authorization into a single process, meaning an access-accept packet includes both authentication success and authorization attributes.
Why this is correct
RADIUS merges authentication and authorization; the access-accept message conveys both that the user is authenticated and what services they are authorized to use.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
When configuring 802.1X on IOS-XE, the switch acts as the authentication server and validates client credentials locally.
Why it's wrong here
In 802.1X, the switch acts as an authenticator (passing messages between the client and the authentication server), not as the authentication server itself.
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.
✓TACACS+ encrypts the entire body of the packet but leaves the standard TCP header unencrypted.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
TACACS+ encrypts the entire payload (body) of the packet, ensuring confidentiality of all attributes, while the TCP header remains unencrypted for routing purposes.
✗RADIUS encrypts the entire packet payload, including all attributes.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This statement is incorrect because RADIUS does not encrypt the entire payload—only the password is encrypted.
✗TACACS+ uses UDP as its transport protocol, while RADIUS uses TCP.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This statement reverses the transport protocols; TACACS+ uses TCP, not UDP.
✗When configuring 802.1X on IOS-XE, the switch acts as the authentication server and validates client credentials locally.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This statement is incorrect because the authentication server is typically a RADIUS server; the switch only mediates the process.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 200-301 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Related practice questions
Related 200-301 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
CCNA subnetting practice questions
Practise IPv4 subnetting, CIDR, masks, host ranges and subnet selection.
CCNA OSPF practice questions
Practise OSPF neighbours, router IDs, metrics, areas and routing-table interpretation.
CCNA VLAN practice questions
Practise VLANs, access ports, trunks, allowed VLANs and switching scenarios.
CCNA STP practice questions
Practise spanning tree, root bridge election, port roles and STP troubleshooting.
CCNA EtherChannel practice questions
Practise LACP, PAgP, port-channel behaviour and bundle requirements.
CCNA ACL practice questions
Practise standard and extended ACLs, permit/deny logic and traffic filtering.
CCNA NAT practice questions
Practise static NAT, dynamic NAT, PAT and inside/outside address translation.
CCNA DHCP practice questions
Practise DHCP scopes, relay, leases and troubleshooting.
CCNA show ip route practice questions
Practise routing-table output, longest-prefix match, AD and route selection.
CCNA show interfaces trunk practice questions
Practise trunk verification and VLAN forwarding across switches.
CCNA wireless security practice questions
Practise WLAN security, authentication and wireless architecture concepts.
CCNA IPv6 practice questions
Practise IPv6 addressing, routes, neighbour discovery and common IPv6 exam traps.
Practice this exam
Start a free 200-301 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: TACACS+ encrypts the entire body of the packet but leaves the standard TCP header unencrypted. — In Cisco IOS-XE, AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) can be configured using either RADIUS or TACACS+. RADIUS encrypts only the password in the access-request packet, while TACACS+ encrypts the entire body of the packet. Additionally, TACACS+ separates authentication, authorization, and accounting into distinct processes, whereas RADIUS combines authentication and authorization. The correct options highlight these key differences.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 200-301 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More 200-301 practice questions
- A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that w…
- A switch has DHCP snooping enabled, but users still experience IP-to-MAC spoofing attacks. Which additional feature shou…
- Switch SW1 sends traffic for VLAN 30 across a trunk to SW2, but hosts in VLAN 30 on SW2 cannot communicate with hosts in…
- What problem is HSRP designed to solve?
- Which DHCP message does the client send to formally accept an offered address?
- What metric does RIP use to choose the best path?
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.
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.