- A
Use YANG data models combined with RESTCONF over HTTPS.
Why wrong: RESTCONF uses HTTPS and can use JSON or XML, but it does not use XML-based RPCs over SSH. It is a RESTful protocol, not based on remote procedure calls.
- B
Use YANG data models combined with NETCONF over SSH.
YANG is a standard, vendor-neutral data modeling language. NETCONF uses XML-based RPCs over SSH for secure, reliable configuration transactions, making this combination ideal for the requirements.
- C
Use CLI commands combined with NETCONF over SSH.
Why wrong: CLI is a proprietary, device-specific interface, not a standard data modeling language. NETCONF can be used with CLI, but this does not meet the requirement for a vendor-neutral data model.
- D
Use CLI commands combined with RESTCONF over HTTPS.
Why wrong: CLI is not a data modeling language, and RESTCONF uses HTTPS, not XML-based RPCs over SSH. This combination does not satisfy either requirement.
Quick Answer
The correct combination is YANG data models with NETCONF over SSH. This is because YANG, defined in RFC 6020, serves as the standard, vendor-neutral data modeling language that structures configuration parameters, while NETCONF, per RFC 6241, uses XML-based remote procedure calls (RPCs) over SSH to ensure secure, reliable, and transactional configuration changes. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this question tests your understanding of how automation protocols align with specific transport and security requirements—a common trap is confusing RESTCONF, which uses HTTPS and JSON/XML but lacks SSH-based RPCs. Remember that NETCONF is the “SSH-native” protocol for transactional XML operations, whereas RESTCONF is HTTP-based and better suited for lightweight web APIs. A helpful memory tip: “NETCONF needs SSH, RESTCONF rests on HTTPS.”
CCNA AI and Network Operations Practice Question
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.
A network engineer needs to automate the configuration of multiple Cisco IOS XE routers in a data center. The team requires a standard, vendor-neutral data modeling language to define the configuration parameters, and they need a protocol that uses XML-based remote procedure calls over SSH for secure, reliable configuration transactions. Which combination of technologies best meets these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Use YANG data models combined with NETCONF over SSH.
Option B is correct because YANG is a standard, vendor-neutral data modeling language (RFC 6020) for defining configuration parameters, and NETCONF (RFC 6241) uses XML-based remote procedure calls (RPCs) over SSH for secure, reliable configuration transactions. This combination directly satisfies the requirement for a standard data model and XML-based RPCs over SSH, unlike RESTCONF which uses HTTPS and JSON/XML but not SSH.
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.
- ✗
Use YANG data models combined with RESTCONF over HTTPS.
- ✓
Use YANG data models combined with NETCONF over SSH.
Why this is correct
YANG is a standard, vendor-neutral data modeling language. NETCONF uses XML-based RPCs over SSH for secure, reliable configuration transactions, making this combination ideal for the requirements.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use CLI commands combined with NETCONF over SSH.
Why it's wrong here
CLI is a proprietary, device-specific interface, not a standard data modeling language. NETCONF can be used with CLI, but this does not meet the requirement for a vendor-neutral data model.
- ✗
Use CLI commands combined with RESTCONF over HTTPS.
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.
✓Use YANG data models combined with NETCONF over SSH.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
YANG is a standard, vendor-neutral data modeling language. NETCONF uses XML-based RPCs over SSH for secure, reliable configuration transactions, making this combination ideal for the requirements.
✗Use YANG data models combined with RESTCONF over HTTPS.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The scenario specifies a protocol that uses XML-based RPCs over SSH, which is a characteristic of NETCONF, not RESTCONF.
✗Use CLI commands combined with NETCONF over SSH.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The scenario specifically asks for a standard, vendor-neutral data modeling language, which CLI is not.
✗Use CLI commands combined with RESTCONF over HTTPS.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Neither the data modeling language (CLI) nor the protocol (RESTCONF) matches the specified requirements of vendor-neutral data modeling and XML-based RPCs over SSH.
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
Cisco often tests the distinction between NETCONF (XML RPCs over SSH) and RESTCONF (RESTful operations over HTTPS), and candidates mistakenly choose RESTCONF because it is more modern, but the question explicitly requires XML-based RPCs over SSH, which only NETCONF provides.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NETCONF operates over SSH (port 830) and uses XML-encoded RPCs to get, set, and delete configuration data, with capabilities like candidate configurations and rollback. YANG models define the structure and constraints of the data, allowing NETCONF to validate transactions before applying them, which is critical for automated data center deployments where misconfigurations can cause widespread outages.
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.
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.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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AI and Network Operations — study guide chapter
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AI and Network Operations practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
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: Use YANG data models combined with NETCONF over SSH. — Option B is correct because YANG is a standard, vendor-neutral data modeling language (RFC 6020) for defining configuration parameters, and NETCONF (RFC 6241) uses XML-based remote procedure calls (RPCs) over SSH for secure, reliable configuration transactions. This combination directly satisfies the requirement for a standard data model and XML-based RPCs over SSH, unlike RESTCONF which uses HTTPS and JSON/XML but not SSH.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 200-301
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A network operations team is implementing an automated system to detect and remediate interface flapping on core switches. The system must be able to query the network device for interface status and execute commands to disable or reconfigure the interface if a pattern of flapping is detected. Which protocol or technology enables the system to programmatically interact with the network device for both monitoring and configuration changes?
medium- A.SNMP
- ✓ B.NETCONF
- C.CLI scripting
- D.Syslog
Why B: NETCONF is the correct choice because it is a standardized network configuration protocol that allows automated systems to retrieve operational data and push configuration changes securely. In this scenario, the system would use NETCONF to query interface status and then apply remediation configurations. SNMP can monitor but has limited configuration capabilities, CLI scripting is non-programmatic and error-prone, and Syslog is only for logging.
Variation 2. A network engineer is automating the configuration of a new branch office router. The engineer needs a protocol that uses a YANG data model, supports both configuration and operational state retrieval, and operates over SSH for secure transport. Which protocol should the engineer use?
medium- A.SNMP
- ✓ B.NETCONF
- C.RESTCONF
- D.CLI scripting
Why B: NETCONF (Network Configuration Protocol) is the correct choice because it uses YANG data models for configuration and operational state retrieval, and it operates over SSH (RFC 6242) for secure transport. Unlike SNMP, NETCONF provides transactional configuration changes and separates configuration from operational state data, making it ideal for automated router configuration.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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