CCNP Infrastructure Practice Question
A network engineer is configuring a VXLAN EVPN fabric on Cisco Nexus switches. The fabric must support Layer 2 extension across multiple leaf switches while maintaining optimal forwarding for Layer 3 traffic. Which control plane component is responsible for advertising MAC and IP address bindings to all leaf switches?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any routing protocol or multicast mechanism can distribute MAC and IP bindings, when only MP-BGP EVPN provides that capability in a VXLAN EVPN fabric.
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
✓
MP-BGP EVPN address family
MP-BGP EVPN is the standard control plane for VXLAN EVPN fabrics. It advertises MAC and IP bindings using EVPN route types, enabling leaf switches to learn remote endpoints and forward traffic optimally without flooding. The other protocols listed are either underlay routing, multicast, or fabric management tools and do not provide the required EVPN address family.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
PIM sparse mode
Why it's wrong here
PIM sparse mode is used for multicast routing and can support VXLAN flood-and-learn for BUM traffic, but it does not distribute MAC or IP bindings. It is not a control plane for EVPN and would not provide the required address family information to leaf switches.
- ✗
Cisco Fabric Services (CFS)
Why it's wrong here
CFS is a Cisco proprietary protocol used for configuration and operational state distribution within a Nexus fabric, but it is not used for EVPN MAC/IP advertisement. It does not replace MP-BGP EVPN for control plane learning in a VXLAN fabric.
- ✓
MP-BGP EVPN address family
Why this is correct
MP-BGP EVPN is the control plane that distributes MAC and IP bindings via EVPN routes such as Type 2 and Type 5. It enables all leaf switches to learn remote MAC/IP addresses and provides optimal forwarding without relying on flood-and-learn. This matches the requirement for a scalable, efficient VXLAN EVPN fabric.
- ✗
OSPFv3 with address families
Why it's wrong here
OSPFv3 is a link-state routing protocol and does not carry EVPN MAC or IP bindings. It can provide underlay routing but cannot advertise Layer 2 or Layer 3 tenant information across the VXLAN fabric. Using OSPFv3 for this purpose would not meet the requirement for dynamic MAC/IP distribution.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.