- A
The VNF Manager (VNFM) is responsible for the lifecycle management of VNF instances, including instantiation and scaling.
Correct because the VNFM performs operations like instantiation, scaling, updating, and termination of VNFs.
- B
The NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) coordinates the allocation of resources across multiple VNFs and the NFVI.
Correct because the NFVO handles resource orchestration and service lifecycle across the entire NFV environment.
- C
The Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) manages the lifecycle of VNFs and their connectivity.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the VIM manages the NFVI resources (compute, storage, network), not the VNFs themselves.
- D
The VIM is responsible for service chaining and policy enforcement within the NFV environment.
Why wrong: Incorrect because service chaining is typically handled by the NFVO or SDN controller, not the VIM.
- E
The VNFM is responsible for managing the physical hardware resources in the NFVI.
Why wrong: Incorrect because physical hardware management is the role of the VIM, not the VNFM.
CCNP Network Function Virtualization Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of network function virtualization. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 two statements about NFV MANO (Management and Orchestration) are true? (Choose two.)
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 VNF Manager (VNFM) is responsible for the lifecycle management of VNF instances, including instantiation and scaling.
NFV MANO consists of three main components: NFV Orchestrator (NFVO), VNF Manager (VNFM), and Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM). The NFVO coordinates network services across multiple VNFs, the VNFM manages individual VNF instances, and the VIM controls the NFVI resources. Option A is correct because the VNFM handles VNF lifecycle (instantiation, scaling, termination). Option B is correct because the NFVO coordinates resources across VNFs and the infrastructure. Option C is incorrect because the VIM manages the NFVI, not VNFs. Option D is incorrect because the VIM does not handle service chaining; that is the role of the NFVO. Option E is incorrect because the VNFM does not manage physical hardware.
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 VNF Manager (VNFM) is responsible for the lifecycle management of VNF instances, including instantiation and scaling.
Why this is correct
Correct because the VNFM performs operations like instantiation, scaling, updating, and termination of VNFs.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✓
The NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) coordinates the allocation of resources across multiple VNFs and the NFVI.
Why this is correct
Correct because the NFVO handles resource orchestration and service lifecycle across the entire NFV environment.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
The Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) manages the lifecycle of VNFs and their connectivity.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the VIM manages the NFVI resources (compute, storage, network), not the VNFs themselves.
- ✗
The VIM is responsible for service chaining and policy enforcement within the NFV environment.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because service chaining is typically handled by the NFVO or SDN controller, not the VIM.
- ✗
The VNFM is responsible for managing the physical hardware resources in the NFVI.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because physical hardware management is the role of the VIM, not the VNFM.
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?
Network Function Virtualization — This question tests Network Function Virtualization — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The VNF Manager (VNFM) is responsible for the lifecycle management of VNF instances, including instantiation and scaling. — NFV MANO consists of three main components: NFV Orchestrator (NFVO), VNF Manager (VNFM), and Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM). The NFVO coordinates network services across multiple VNFs, the VNFM manages individual VNF instances, and the VIM controls the NFVI resources. Option A is correct because the VNFM handles VNF lifecycle (instantiation, scaling, termination). Option B is correct because the NFVO coordinates resources across VNFs and the infrastructure. Option C is incorrect because the VIM manages the NFVI, not VNFs. Option D is incorrect because the VIM does not handle service chaining; that is the role of the NFVO. Option E is incorrect because the VNFM does not manage physical hardware.
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.
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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