- A
The vSmart controller is responsible for distributing control plane information such as OMP routes and policies to the WAN edge routers.
Correct because vSmart is the centralized control plane component that advertises routes and policies using OMP.
- B
The vBond controller is primarily used for device authentication and orchestration of initial connections.
Correct because vBond authenticates vEdge/cEdge devices and helps them discover vSmart and vManage.
- C
The vManage controller forwards all data traffic between branch sites.
Why wrong: Incorrect because vManage is a management plane component; it does not forward data traffic.
- D
WAN edge routers can connect to the SD-WAN fabric using multiple transport interfaces (e.g., MPLS, Internet, LTE).
Correct because Cisco SD-WAN supports multi-homing with different transport types for redundancy and load balancing.
- E
OMP (Overlay Management Protocol) runs between vEdge routers and the vManage controller.
Why wrong: Incorrect because OMP runs between vEdge routers and the vSmart controller, not vManage.
Quick Answer
The answer is that WAN edge routers can connect to the SD-WAN fabric using multiple transport interfaces such as MPLS, Internet, or LTE. This is true because Cisco SD-WAN decouples the control plane from the data plane, allowing vEdge routers to establish secure DTLS or TLS tunnels to the vSmart controller for policy and routing, while using any available transport independently. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept tests your understanding of transport independence and the separation of roles among vSmart, vBond, and vManage. A common trap is assuming vSmart forwards data traffic—it does not; it only controls routing and policy. Remember the mnemonic “vSmart steers, vBond appears, vManage cheers, and the edge uses multiple gears” to recall that the WAN edge is the only component that actually forwards data over diverse transports.
CCNP WAN Technologies Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of wan technologies. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Which three statements about SD-WAN (Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN) are true? (Choose three.)
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
The vSmart controller is responsible for distributing control plane information such as OMP routes and policies to the WAN edge routers.
Cisco SD-WAN uses a centralized vSmart controller for policy and routing, vBond for orchestration and authentication, and vManage for management. vEdge routers establish secure DTLS/TLS tunnels to controllers and can use multiple transport interfaces. The control plane is separate from the data plane. vSmart does not forward data traffic.
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.
- ✓
The vSmart controller is responsible for distributing control plane information such as OMP routes and policies to the WAN edge routers.
Why this is correct
Correct because vSmart is the centralized control plane component that advertises routes and policies using OMP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
The vBond controller is primarily used for device authentication and orchestration of initial connections.
Why this is correct
Correct because vBond authenticates vEdge/cEdge devices and helps them discover vSmart and vManage.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The vManage controller forwards all data traffic between branch sites.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because vManage is a management plane component; it does not forward data traffic.
- ✓
WAN edge routers can connect to the SD-WAN fabric using multiple transport interfaces (e.g., MPLS, Internet, LTE).
Why this is correct
Correct because Cisco SD-WAN supports multi-homing with different transport types for redundancy and load balancing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
OMP (Overlay Management Protocol) runs between vEdge routers and the vManage controller.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because OMP runs between vEdge routers and the vSmart controller, not vManage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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WAN Technologies practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
WAN Technologies — This question tests WAN Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The vSmart controller is responsible for distributing control plane information such as OMP routes and policies to the WAN edge routers. — Cisco SD-WAN uses a centralized vSmart controller for policy and routing, vBond for orchestration and authentication, and vManage for management. vEdge routers establish secure DTLS/TLS tunnels to controllers and can use multiple transport interfaces. The control plane is separate from the data plane. vSmart does not forward data traffic.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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
1 more ways this is tested on 350-401
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. Which two statements about SD-WAN architecture are true? (Choose two.)
medium- ✓ A.The vSmart controller is responsible for distributing routing and policy information to the WAN edge routers.
- ✓ B.vEdge routers establish IPsec tunnels directly with each other for data plane traffic.
- C.The vBond orchestrator is responsible for forwarding data traffic between branch sites.
- D.vEdge routers establish OMP sessions with each other to exchange control plane information.
- E.Control plane communication between vSmart and vEdge is secured using IPsec.
Why A: In Cisco SD-WAN, the vSmart controller is responsible for centralized control and policy distribution, while the vBond orchestrator handles authentication and NAT traversal. The vManage is the management plane. vEdge routers establish OMP sessions with vSmart, not with each other. Control plane traffic between vSmart and vEdge is secured with DTLS or TLS, not IPsec. The vBond is not involved in forwarding data traffic.
Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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.
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