- A
Fabric edge switches with VXLAN and LISP; APs in local mode with a centralized WLC.
Why wrong: A centralized WLC would require all wireless traffic to be tunneled back to the WLC, which defeats the purpose of distributed mobility.
- B
Fabric edge switches with VXLAN and LISP; APs in fabric mode (SD-Access enabled).
Fabric mode APs connect directly to the fabric edge and use VXLAN encapsulation; LISP handles endpoint mobility across the fabric.
- C
Fabric border nodes with VXLAN and LISP; APs in flexconnect mode with a local switch.
Why wrong: Flexconnect mode still requires a WLC for control and does not integrate natively with the SD-Access fabric overlay.
- D
Fabric control plane nodes with VXLAN and LISP; APs in monitor mode.
Why wrong: Monitor mode APs are used for security and do not forward client traffic, so they cannot support client roaming.
CCNP SD-WAN Architecture Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of sd-wan architecture. 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.
An architect is designing an SD-Access fabric for a large campus network. The design must support wireless clients that roam across different access switches without requiring a centralized wireless LAN controller. Which fabric component and protocol combination should the architect use to enable this mobility?
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
Fabric edge switches with VXLAN and LISP; APs in fabric mode (SD-Access enabled).
Option B is correct because SD-Access fabric uses fabric edge switches with VXLAN (data plane) and LISP (control plane) to create a distributed overlay that supports seamless wireless client roaming. APs in fabric mode (SD-Access enabled) integrate directly with the fabric, allowing the fabric edge to handle mobility without a centralized WLC, as the client's context is maintained across the VXLAN overlay.
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.
- ✗
Fabric edge switches with VXLAN and LISP; APs in local mode with a centralized WLC.
Why it's wrong here
A centralized WLC would require all wireless traffic to be tunneled back to the WLC, which defeats the purpose of distributed mobility.
- ✓
Fabric edge switches with VXLAN and LISP; APs in fabric mode (SD-Access enabled).
Why this is correct
Fabric mode APs connect directly to the fabric edge and use VXLAN encapsulation; LISP handles endpoint mobility across the fabric.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Fabric border nodes with VXLAN and LISP; APs in flexconnect mode with a local switch.
Why it's wrong here
Flexconnect mode still requires a WLC for control and does not integrate natively with the SD-Access fabric overlay.
- ✗
Fabric control plane nodes with VXLAN and LISP; APs in monitor mode.
Why it's wrong here
Monitor mode APs are used for security and do not forward client traffic, so they cannot support client roaming.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that SD-Access requires a centralized WLC for wireless roaming, but the trap here is that fabric mode APs offload mobility to the fabric edge switches using VXLAN/LISP, eliminating the need for a WLC controller.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In SD-Access, the fabric edge switch acts as the first-hop router for wireless clients, encapsulating traffic in VXLAN with a LISP-derived destination RLOC. When a client roams, the fabric edge updates the LISP map-server with the new location, and traffic is re-routed via VXLAN tunnel without requiring a mobility anchor. This is defined in RFC 6830 (LISP) and RFC 7348 (VXLAN), and Cisco implements this with the 'fabric mode' AP configuration that enables the AP to register with the fabric edge via CAPWAP control but forward data plane traffic directly over VXLAN.
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 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
SD-WAN Architecture — This question tests SD-WAN Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Fabric edge switches with VXLAN and LISP; APs in fabric mode (SD-Access enabled). — Option B is correct because SD-Access fabric uses fabric edge switches with VXLAN (data plane) and LISP (control plane) to create a distributed overlay that supports seamless wireless client roaming. APs in fabric mode (SD-Access enabled) integrate directly with the fabric, allowing the fabric edge to handle mobility without a centralized WLC, as the client's context is maintained across the VXLAN overlay.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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