easyMultiple Choice
CCNP Practice Question: The default syslog severity level for console…
What is the default syslog severity level for console logging on a Cisco IOS device?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the default syslog severity for console logging versus other logging destinations (like buffer or monitor), where the default may differ (e.g., buffer logging defaults to debugging as well, but monitor logging defaults to informational), causing candidates to confuse the defaults.
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
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debugging (level 7)
By default, Cisco IOS devices log messages with severity levels 0 through 7 (emergencies through debugging) to the console. This is because the console logging default is set to 'debugging' (level 7), meaning all syslog messages, regardless of severity, are displayed on the console. This behavior is controlled by the 'logging console debugging' command, which is the default configuration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
debugging (level 7)
Why this is correct
The default console logging severity in Cisco IOS is debugging (level 7), which is the least severe level and permits every syslog message from emergency (0) through debug (7) to be displayed. Because no explicit logging console command is configured by default, all syslog messages appear on the console, including informational and debugging messages.
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informational (level 6)
Why it's wrong here
The default console logging severity is not informational (level 6); it is debugging (level 7). If console logging were limited to informational, only messages of severity 0 through 6 would be shown and debug messages (severity 7) would be suppressed. In contrast, the actual default permits debug output as well, so informational is too restrictive relative to the native behavior.
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warnings (level 4)
Why it's wrong here
Warnings (level 4) is a common severity threshold, but it is not the default for console logging. If the console were set to warnings, only messages from emergency (0) through warnings (4) would appear, while informational (6) and debugging (7) messages would be hidden. The IOS default is level 7, so all severities—not just those at or above warning—are displayed on the console.
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errors (level 3)
Why it's wrong here
Errors (level 3) would restrict console output to only emergency, alert, critical, and error messages, suppressing warnings, informational messages, and debugging output. This is far more restrictive than the default, which is debugging (level 7). Since the default `logging console` command has no severity filter below level 7, error-level syslog messages are not the only ones displayed; all higher-numbered severities are shown as well.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.