- A
The IP SLA operation is using the wrong source IP address; it should be sourced from the interface that connects to the next-hop router.
Correct. If the IP SLA probe is sourced from a different interface (e.g., loopback), it may take a different path and succeed even if the next-hop router is unreachable via the intended interface.
- B
The IP SLA operation must be configured with a 'timeout' value lower than the RTT to force a failure.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the RTT is 1 ms, so a timeout would not help; the issue is that the probe is succeeding when it should not.
- C
The track object must be configured with a 'down' delay to prevent flapping.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the track object is up when it should be down; a delay would not change the state.
- D
The static route must be configured with a higher administrative distance to allow the IP SLA to remove it.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the administrative distance does not affect the IP SLA probe's ability to detect reachability.
Quick Answer
The answer is a misconfigured source IP address for the IP SLA operation. When the IP SLA probe is sourced from the wrong interface—often the management or loopback interface—it can successfully reach the target via an alternate path, even though the actual next-hop router at 10.1.1.1 is unreachable from the interface that should be used. This happens because the source router’s default route points to that same next-hop, causing the probe to be sent out a different interface and potentially looping back or taking a different route, so the track object incorrectly shows “up.” On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how IP SLA source addressing interacts with routing tables and track objects; a common trap is assuming the probe always uses the correct interface. Always verify that the IP SLA is sourced from the specific interface connecting to the monitored next-hop. Memory tip: “Source it right, or the track will lie.”
CCNP IP SLA Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of ip sla. 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.
An engineer configures IP SLA 10 to monitor the reachability of a next-hop router at 10.1.1.1 using ICMP echo. The IP SLA is used as a track object for a static route. The engineer notices that the IP SLA operation shows 'State: Active' and 'Latest RTT: 1 ms', but the track object shows 'Track 10: up' even though the next-hop router is actually unreachable from the source. The source router has a default route pointing to 10.1.1.1. What is the most likely cause?
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 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 IP SLA operation is using the wrong source IP address; it should be sourced from the interface that connects to the next-hop router.
If the source router has a default route pointing to the same next-hop, the IP SLA probe packets may be sent out using that default route, which could lead to the probe being sent to a different path or looping. However, the more direct cause is that the IP SLA probe is sourced from an interface that is not the one that would be used to reach the next-hop, so the probe may succeed even if the next-hop is unreachable via the expected path.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 is using the wrong source IP address; it should be sourced from the interface that connects to the next-hop router.
Why this is correct
Correct. If the IP SLA probe is sourced from a different interface (e.g., loopback), it may take a different path and succeed even if the next-hop router is unreachable via the intended interface.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
The IP SLA operation must be configured with a 'timeout' value lower than the RTT to force a failure.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the RTT is 1 ms, so a timeout would not help; the issue is that the probe is succeeding when it should not.
- ✗
The track object must be configured with a 'down' delay to prevent flapping.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the track object is up when it should be down; a delay would not change the state.
- ✗
The static route must be configured with a higher administrative distance to allow the IP SLA to remove it.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the administrative distance does not affect the IP SLA probe's ability to detect reachability.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
IP SLA — This question tests IP SLA — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The IP SLA operation is using the wrong source IP address; it should be sourced from the interface that connects to the next-hop router. — If the source router has a default route pointing to the same next-hop, the IP SLA probe packets may be sent out using that default route, which could lead to the probe being sent to a different path or looping. However, the more direct cause is that the IP SLA probe is sourced from an interface that is not the one that would be used to reach the next-hop, so the probe may succeed even if the next-hop is unreachable via the expected path.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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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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