This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of ip sla. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 issues the following command on Router R3:
R3# show ip sla statistics 2
Round Trip Time (RTT) for Index 2
Latest RTT: 12 ms
Latest RTT: NoConnection/Busy/Timeout
Latest Operation Start Time: 12:00:00.000 UTC Mon Mar 1 2021
Latest Operation Return Code: Timeout
Number of successes: 45
Number of failures: 5
Over thresholds: 0
Based on this output, what is the most likely issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The most recent probe timed out, indicating a possible connectivity issue.
The 'Latest Operation Return Code: Timeout' indicates that the most recent probe did not receive a response, suggesting a connectivity problem to the target. The presence of both successes and failures shows intermittent issues.
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 IP SLA operation has never succeeded.
Why it's wrong here
There are 45 successes, so it has succeeded before.
✗
The target is unreachable due to a persistent failure.
Why it's wrong here
The failures are only 5 out of 50, so it is intermittent, not persistent.
✓
The most recent probe timed out, indicating a possible connectivity issue.
Why this is correct
The return code 'Timeout' for the latest operation suggests a recent failure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The round-trip time is 12 ms, which is above the threshold.
Why it's wrong here
The latest RTT shows 12 ms, but the 'Over thresholds' count is 0, so it is not above threshold.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The latest RTT shows 12 ms, but the 'Over thresholds' count is 0, so it is not above threshold.
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.
IP SLA — This question tests IP SLA — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The most recent probe timed out, indicating a possible connectivity issue. — The 'Latest Operation Return Code: Timeout' indicates that the most recent probe did not receive a response, suggesting a connectivity problem to the target. The presence of both successes and failures shows intermittent issues.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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