CCNP Automation Practice Question
A retail company wants its network engineers to push consistent OSPF configurations to dozens of Cisco IOS XE routers using a declarative, agentless automation tool that connects over SSH and does not require installing software on the managed devices. Which tool best fits these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming all configuration-management tools are agentless, when Puppet, Chef, and SaltStack default to agent-based designs.
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
✓
Ansible, using modules such as ios_config with an inventory of IOS XE devices and SSH credentials.
Ansible is the agentless, declarative tool that connects over SSH and uses network-specific modules to configure Cisco IOS XE devices. It needs no software installed on the routers, relying instead on SSH and Python executed on the control node. Puppet, Chef, and SaltStack in their default forms require an agent on the managed node, which IOS XE cannot host, so they fail the stated agentless requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Ansible, using modules such as ios_config with an inventory of IOS XE devices and SSH credentials.
Why this is correct
Ansible is declarative, agentless, and connects to managed nodes over SSH without installing any agent software. Its network modules, including ios_config and ios_ospf, target Cisco IOS and IOS XE devices and push configuration from playbooks. This matches the requirement for consistency across many routers, no on-device agent, and SSH-based transport exactly as described.
- ✗
Puppet, using a master-agent architecture with the Puppet agent installed on each IOS XE router.
Why it's wrong here
Puppet traditionally relies on a master-agent model where an agent runs on the managed node, which Cisco IOS XE does not natively host. While Puppet can proxy to network devices, the described requirement explicitly excludes installing software on the managed devices. The agent-based design therefore conflicts with the agentless constraint stated in the scenario.
- ✗
Chef, using a Chef client installed directly on each Cisco IOS XE router to converge configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Chef uses a client that runs on the managed node to pull and enforce configuration, and IOS XE cannot host a Chef client natively. This violates the agentless requirement. Chef can manage network devices through proxy or resource-based approaches, but the scenario specifically asks for a tool that does not require on-device software, making the client-based model unsuitable here.
- ✗
SaltStack, using Salt minions installed locally on every IOS XE device to receive configuration commands.
Why it's wrong here
SaltStack's default architecture installs a minion on each managed node, which is not possible on Cisco IOS XE without external compute. Although Salt supports agentless SSH mode, the option as written specifies local minions, directly contradicting the agentless constraint. This makes the described implementation incompatible with the routers as managed endpoints.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
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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.