CCNA AI and Network Operations Practice Question
Which two tasks are strong candidates for network automation? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Avoid assuming that all network tasks can be automated. Focus on repetitive and rule-based tasks.
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
✓
Polling many devices for interface status on a schedule
Automation works best for repetitive, rule-based tasks such as gathering state information or pushing standard configuration changes across many devices.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Polling many devices for interface status on a schedule
Why this is correct
Automation excels at scheduled, repetitive data collection. Polling interface status from hundreds of devices via SNMP, NETCONF, or streaming telemetry is a deterministic, read-only operation that can be automated to run at consistent intervals, capturing operational state without human intervention. This enables proactive monitoring, historical trend analysis, and quick fault detection, while reducing the burden on network engineers who would otherwise manually connect to each device. The scale and regularity of the task make it a textbook candidate for automation.
- ✗
Replacing a failed power supply in a branch switch
Why it's wrong here
Replacing a failed power supply is a physical hardware operation that requires hands-on access to the device, safe handling of electrical components, and often the need to be on-site at the branch location. This task involves tactile manipulation, physical removal and insertion, and cannot be performed through a software interface or script. Network automation applies to programmable, data-driven tasks, not to hardware repairs that demand physical presence and manual dexterity.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking about tasks that involve hardware maintenance or physical repairs in a network environment, such as 'Which tasks can be performed by on-site technicians?', option B would be correct as it directly relates to hardware replacement.
- ✓
Pushing a standard NTP configuration to many routers
Why this is correct
Deploying a standard NTP configuration is an ideal automation use case because it is a uniform, repetitive configuration change that must be applied identically to many routers. Automation tools like Ansible, Chef, or NETCONF/YANG can template the NTP commands and push them in a controlled, consistent manner, eliminating the risk of human typos or omissions. This task is purely logical and does not require physical interaction, making it fully scriptable and verifiable through post-deployment checks, ensuring the desired end state is achieved across all devices.
- ✗
Tracing one cable through a crowded rack by hand
Why it's wrong here
Tracing a cable through a crowded rack by hand is an inherently physical, visual task that requires an engineer to physically follow the cable path amidst other cabling, often using labels or tone-and-probe tools to identify the exact physical link. This kind of manual identification and tracing cannot be abstracted into a network protocol or API call; it depends on human observation and physical interaction with the infrastructure. Automation targets tasks that are logical, repeatable, and can be executed via software, none of which apply to physically tracing cables.
When this WOULD be correct
If the exam question asked for tasks that require physical interaction or manual troubleshooting in a network environment, then tracing a cable would be appropriate. For example, a question might ask for tasks that involve identifying physical connectivity issues in a data center.
- ✗
Listening for fan noise in a wiring closet
Why it's wrong here
Listening for fan noise is an environmental, human-performed inspection that relies on audible cues to detect potential hardware failures, such as a failing bearing or an overheating component. This is a physical, subjective observation that cannot be captured programmatically via standard network management protocols, nor does it involve data exchange with the network device. Network automation is designed for tasks that can be expressed as code, executed remotely, and validated through structured data—audible inspection is neither programmable nor scalable across distributed sites.
When this WOULD be correct
If the exam question asked for tasks related to environmental monitoring or physical maintenance of network equipment, then listening for fan noise could be considered a valid task. For example, a question might ask which tasks can help ensure optimal hardware performance in a data center.
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.
✓Polling many devices for interface status on a scheduleCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Automation excels at scheduled, repetitive data collection. Polling interface status from hundreds of devices via SNMP, NETCONF, or streaming telemetry is a deterministic, read-only operation that can be automated to run at consistent intervals, capturing operational state without human intervention. This enables proactive monitoring, historical trend analysis, and quick fault detection, while reducing the burden on network engineers who would otherwise manually connect to each device. The scale and regularity of the task make it a textbook candidate for automation.
✗Replacing a failed power supply in a branch switchWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Replacing a failed power supply is a physical hardware task that requires hands-on intervention, not a software-based or configuration task that network automation tools can perform.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking about tasks that involve hardware maintenance or physical repairs in a network environment, such as 'Which tasks can be performed by on-site technicians?', option B would be correct as it directly relates to hardware replacement.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that any repetitive task in network operations is automatable, but automation primarily targets software-configurable tasks, not physical hardware replacements.
✗Tracing one cable through a crowded rack by handWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Tracing a cable by hand is a physical, manual task that cannot be automated with network automation tools, which focus on software-based configuration and monitoring.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the exam question asked for tasks that require physical interaction or manual troubleshooting in a network environment, then tracing a cable would be appropriate. For example, a question might ask for tasks that involve identifying physical connectivity issues in a data center.
Why candidates choose this
Students might confuse cable tracing with tasks like network discovery or topology mapping, which can be automated, but physical tracing remains a manual process.
✗Listening for fan noise in a wiring closetWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Listening for fan noise is a physical inspection task that relies on human senses and cannot be performed by network automation software, which deals with digital data and configurations.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the exam question asked for tasks related to environmental monitoring or physical maintenance of network equipment, then listening for fan noise could be considered a valid task. For example, a question might ask which tasks can help ensure optimal hardware performance in a data center.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that environmental monitoring (e.g., via sensors) is automatable, but the specific act of listening by ear is not a digital workflow.
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?”
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.