This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ai and network operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Exhibit
R1#show ntp status
Clock is unsynchronized, stratum 16, no reference clock
nominal freq is 250.0000 Hz, actual freq is 250.0000 Hz, precision is 2**10
reference time is 0.0.0.0 (00:00:00.000 UTC Mon Jan 1 2000)
clock offset is 0.0000 msec, root delay is 0.00 msec
root dispersion is 0.00 msec, peer dispersion is 0.00 msec
loopfilter state is 'CTRL' (Normal Controlled Loop)
system poll interval is 64, last update was 0 sec ago.
R1#show ntp associations
address ref clock st when poll reach delay offset disp
*~0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 16 - 64 0 0.00 0.00 16000.
* sys.peer, # selected, + candidate, - outlyer, x falseticker, ~ configured
R1#show run | section logging
logging host 198.51.100.20
logging trap informational
You are connected to R1 via the console. R1 should synchronize its clock with the NTP server 192.0.2.10 using its loopback0 interface (IP 10.0.0.1) as the source. Additionally, syslog messages of severity 'notification' (level 5) and above must be sent to the syslog server at 198.51.100.20. Currently, R1 shows NTP stratum 16 (unsynchronized) and syslog messages are not being forwarded. Identify and resolve the issues.
R1#show ntp status
Clock is unsynchronized, stratum 16, no reference clock
nominal freq is 250.0000 Hz, actual freq is 250.0000 Hz, precision is 2**10
reference time is 0.0.0.0 (00:00:00.000 UTC Mon Jan 1 2000)
clock offset is 0.0000 msec, root delay is 0.00 msec
root dispersion is 0.00 msec, peer dispersion is 0.00 msec
loopfilter state is 'CTRL' (Normal Controlled Loop)
system poll interval is 64, last update was 0 sec ago.
R1#show ntp associations
address ref clock st when poll reach delay offset disp
*~0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 16 - 64 0 0.00 0.00 16000.
* sys.peer, # selected, + candidate, - outlyer, x falseticker, ~ configured
R1#show run | section logging
logging host 198.51.100.20
logging trap informational
A
Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap informational' to 'logging trap notifications'.
The NTP server command is missing, so the router does not know which server to synchronize with. The syslog trap level is set to 'informational' (level 6), which is too low to forward 'notification' (level 5) messages; changing it to 'notifications' (level 5) ensures level 0-5 messages are sent.
B
Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap notifications' to 'logging trap informational'.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because changing the trap level to 'informational' would actually lower the severity threshold, but the current issue is that the trap level is already 'informational' and needs to be raised to 'notifications' to forward level 5 messages.
C
Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap notifications' to 'logging trap debugging'.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because 'debugging' (level 7) is the lowest severity and would forward all messages, but the current trap level is already 'informational' (6), not 'notifications'. The correct fix is to change the trap level to 'notifications' (5) to match the requirement.
D
Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap informational' to 'logging trap emergencies'.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because 'emergencies' (level 0) is the highest severity and would only forward level 0 messages, which would not include 'notification' (level 5) messages.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap informational' to 'logging trap notifications'.
The NTP is unsynchronized because the 'ntp server' command is missing; only 'ntp source' is configured. Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' to point to the NTP server. The syslog trap level is set to 'informational' (level 6), which is too low—messages of level 5 (notification) are not sent because the trap level must be equal to or higher severity than the messages to be forwarded. Change the trap level to 'notifications' (level 5) to ensure level 0-5 messages are forwarded.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap informational' to 'logging trap notifications'.
Why this is correct
The NTP server command is missing, so the router does not know which server to synchronize with. The syslog trap level is set to 'informational' (level 6), which is too low to forward 'notification' (level 5) messages; changing it to 'notifications' (level 5) ensures level 0-5 messages are sent.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap notifications' to 'logging trap informational'.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because changing the trap level to 'informational' would actually lower the severity threshold, but the current issue is that the trap level is already 'informational' and needs to be raised to 'notifications' to forward level 5 messages.
✗
Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap notifications' to 'logging trap debugging'.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because 'debugging' (level 7) is the lowest severity and would forward all messages, but the current trap level is already 'informational' (6), not 'notifications'. The correct fix is to change the trap level to 'notifications' (5) to match the requirement.
✗
Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap informational' to 'logging trap emergencies'.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because 'emergencies' (level 0) is the highest severity and would only forward level 0 messages, which would not include 'notification' (level 5) messages.
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.
✓Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap informational' to 'logging trap notifications'.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The NTP server command is missing, so the router does not know which server to synchronize with. The syslog trap level is set to 'informational' (level 6), which is too low to forward 'notification' (level 5) messages; changing it to 'notifications' (level 5) ensures level 0-5 messages are sent.
✗Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap notifications' to 'logging trap informational'.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The trap level should be set to 'notifications' (level 5) or higher severity to forward level 5 messages; 'informational' is lower severity and would not forward level 5 messages.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the direction of severity: they might think 'informational' includes all messages, but in syslog, lower numbers indicate higher severity, so 'informational' (6) is less severe than 'notifications' (5).
✗Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap notifications' to 'logging trap debugging'.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The trap level is currently 'informational' (6), not 'notifications'. Changing to 'debugging' would forward all messages, but the requirement is to forward level 5 and above, which is achieved by setting trap level to 'notifications' (5).
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think 'debugging' is a catch-all that solves the problem, but it is overkill and does not address the specific misconfiguration of the current trap level.
✗Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap informational' to 'logging trap emergencies'.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Setting the trap level to 'emergencies' would filter out all messages except level 0, so level 5 messages would not be forwarded.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that 'emergencies' is a higher level that includes all messages, but in syslog, lower numbers are higher severity, so 'emergencies' (0) is the most restrictive.
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: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-301 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Identify which 200-301 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
AI and Network Operations — This question tests AI and Network Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' and change 'logging trap informational' to 'logging trap notifications'. — The NTP is unsynchronized because the 'ntp server' command is missing; only 'ntp source' is configured. Add 'ntp server 192.0.2.10' to point to the NTP server. The syslog trap level is set to 'informational' (level 6), which is too low—messages of level 5 (notification) are not sent because the trap level must be equal to or higher severity than the messages to be forwarded. Change the trap level to 'notifications' (level 5) to ensure level 0-5 messages are forwarded.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which 200-301 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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