Question 1mediummulti select
Full question →mediummulti selectObjective-mapped
Which two tasks are strong candidates for network automation? (Choose two.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Polling many devices for interface status on a schedule
Correct. Scheduled state collection is a strong automation use case.
B
Distractor review
Replacing a failed power supply in a branch switch
This is a physical hardware task, not a primary automation task.
C
Best answer
Pushing a standard NTP configuration to many routers
Correct. Standardized config deployment is ideal for automation.
D
Distractor review
Tracing one cable through a crowded rack by hand
Manual cable tracing is a physical task.
E
Distractor review
Listening for fan noise in a wiring closet
Audible inspection is not the sort of repeatable digital workflow automation targets.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is selecting physical hardware tasks like replacing a failed power supply or manually tracing cables as candidates for automation. These tasks require physical presence and manual effort, which cannot be replaced by software automation. The exam may tempt candidates to choose these options because they are network-related activities, but automation focuses on digital, repeatable workflows such as polling device status or pushing configurations. Confusing physical maintenance with automation tasks leads to incorrect answers and misunderstanding of network programmability principles.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Network automation leverages programmable interfaces and scripting to perform routine network management tasks efficiently. Polling devices for interface status involves using protocols like SNMP or APIs to gather real-time data on interface states, errors, and traffic statistics. Automating this process allows network engineers to maintain continuous visibility into network performance without manual polling, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. This is especially important in large-scale networks where manual checks are impractical. Automating configuration deployment, such as pushing a standard NTP configuration to multiple routers, ensures uniformity and compliance with network policies. NTP synchronization is vital for maintaining consistent timestamps across devices, which supports accurate event correlation and security auditing. Using automation tools like Ansible, Python scripts, or Cisco's own network programmability frameworks, engineers can apply configurations quickly and reliably, reducing configuration drift and operational overhead. A common exam trap is confusing physical hardware tasks with automation candidates. Tasks like replacing a failed power supply or manually tracing cables are physical and cannot be automated through software. Understanding the distinction between digital, repeatable workflows and manual physical interventions is crucial. In practical networks, automation enhances operational efficiency but does not replace hands-on hardware maintenance, which requires physical presence and manual skills.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Network automation selects repetitive, rule-based tasks such as scheduled polling of device interface status for efficient monitoring.
- Automated configuration deployment ensures consistent application of standard settings like NTP across multiple routers to maintain network synchronization.
- Polling many devices for interface status uses protocols like SNMP or APIs to gather real-time operational data without manual intervention.
- Pushing standardized configurations reduces configuration drift and enforces compliance with network policies across Cisco devices.
- Physical hardware tasks such as replacing power supplies or manual cable tracing cannot be automated and require hands-on intervention.
- Automation improves network reliability by minimizing human error in routine tasks like state collection and configuration updates.
- Scheduled state collection automates network health checks, enabling proactive issue detection and faster troubleshooting.
- Understanding the difference between digital automation tasks and physical manual tasks prevents common mistakes in network management.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Network automation selects repetitive, rule-based tasks such as scheduled polling of device interface status for efficient monitoring.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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