The correct answer is to create a service chain in NFVIS that places the vWAAS between the two VNFs. This is correct because NFVIS service chaining for traffic redirect uses internal vSwitch forwarding rules to enforce a specific traffic path, allowing the vWAAS to intercept and optimize flows that would otherwise bypass it via direct VNF-to-VNF communication. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this tests your understanding of NFVIS overlay networking and the service insertion model, where traffic redirection is achieved through policy-based chaining rather than modifying individual VNF interfaces. A common trap is assuming you need to change routing on the VNFs themselves, but NFVIS handles this transparently at the hypervisor layer. Memory tip: think of service chaining as a “virtual patch panel” that forces traffic through a middlebox without touching the endpoints.
CCNP Network Function Virtualization Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of network function virtualization. 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.
A company is deploying a virtual WAN optimizer (vWAAS) on a Cisco NFVIS host. The engineer needs to ensure that the vWAAS can intercept traffic between two VNFs running on the same host. The traffic currently flows directly between the VNFs without passing through the vWAAS. What should the engineer configure to redirect the traffic?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a service chain in NFVIS that places the vWAAS between the two VNFs.
Option A is correct because NFVIS supports service chaining, which allows an administrator to define a sequence of VNFs that traffic must traverse. By creating a service chain that places the vWAAS between the two VNFs, NFVIS will automatically redirect the traffic through the vWAAS using internal bridging or vSwitch forwarding rules, without requiring any configuration changes on the VNFs themselves.
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.
✓
Create a service chain in NFVIS that places the vWAAS between the two VNFs.
Why this is correct
Correct because service chaining allows traffic to be steered through VNFs in a specified order.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure a static route on each VNF pointing to the vWAAS.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because static routes would not redirect traffic if the VNFs are directly connected at Layer 2.
✗
Enable WCCP on the vWAAS and configure the VNFs to use WCCP.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because WCCP is designed for redirecting traffic from routers, not for intra-host VNF communication.
✗
Use policy-based routing on the VNFs to forward traffic to the vWAAS.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because PBR would require manual configuration on each VNF and does not leverage NFVIS's service chaining capabilities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume traffic redirection between VNFs must be done at Layer 3 (routing) using static routes or PBR, but Cisco tests the understanding that NFVIS service chaining operates at Layer 2 within the hypervisor, providing transparent interception without modifying the VNFs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NFVIS service chaining leverages the underlying vSwitch (e.g., Open vSwitch) to create a directed graph of VNF interfaces. When a service chain is defined, NFVIS programs flow rules that force traffic between specified VNFs to pass through the vWAAS by rewriting MAC addresses or using internal VLAN tagging. This is similar to how Service Function Chaining (SFC) works in NFV environments, but NFVIS implements it via its own orchestration layer, ensuring zero-touch redirection without altering VNF routing tables.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Network Function Virtualization — This question tests Network Function Virtualization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a service chain in NFVIS that places the vWAAS between the two VNFs. — Option A is correct because NFVIS supports service chaining, which allows an administrator to define a sequence of VNFs that traffic must traverse. By creating a service chain that places the vWAAS between the two VNFs, NFVIS will automatically redirect the traffic through the vWAAS using internal bridging or vSwitch forwarding rules, without requiring any configuration changes on the VNFs themselves.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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