- A
The vSmart controller is responsible for distributing routing and policy information to the WAN edge routers.
Correct because vSmart acts as the control plane, using OMP to distribute routes and policies to vEdge/cEdge routers.
- B
vEdge routers establish IPsec tunnels directly with each other for data plane traffic.
Correct because vEdge routers form direct IPsec tunnels (also called secure tunnels) between themselves for forwarding user data.
- C
The vBond orchestrator is responsible for forwarding data traffic between branch sites.
Why wrong: Incorrect because vBond only performs authentication, NAT traversal, and orchestration; it does not forward data traffic.
- D
vEdge routers establish OMP sessions with each other to exchange control plane information.
Why wrong: Incorrect because OMP sessions are established between vEdge routers and the vSmart controller, not between vEdge routers directly.
- E
Control plane communication between vSmart and vEdge is secured using IPsec.
Why wrong: Incorrect because control plane communication uses DTLS or TLS, not IPsec. IPsec is used for data plane tunnels.
CCNP WAN Technologies Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of wan technologies. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 SD-WAN architecture 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 vSmart controller is responsible for distributing routing and policy information to the WAN edge routers.
In Cisco SD-WAN, the vSmart controller is responsible for centralized control and policy distribution, while the vBond orchestrator handles authentication and NAT traversal. The vManage is the management plane. vEdge routers establish OMP sessions with vSmart, not with each other. Control plane traffic between vSmart and vEdge is secured with DTLS or TLS, not IPsec. The vBond is not involved in forwarding data traffic.
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 vSmart controller is responsible for distributing routing and policy information to the WAN edge routers.
Why this is correct
Correct because vSmart acts as the control plane, using OMP to distribute routes and policies to vEdge/cEdge routers.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✓
vEdge routers establish IPsec tunnels directly with each other for data plane traffic.
- ✗
The vBond orchestrator is responsible for forwarding data traffic between branch sites.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because vBond only performs authentication, NAT traversal, and orchestration; it does not forward data traffic.
- ✗
vEdge routers establish OMP sessions with each other to exchange control plane information.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because OMP sessions are established between vEdge routers and the vSmart controller, not between vEdge routers directly.
- ✗
Control plane communication between vSmart and vEdge is secured using IPsec.
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?
WAN Technologies — This question tests WAN Technologies — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The vSmart controller is responsible for distributing routing and policy information to the WAN edge routers. — In Cisco SD-WAN, the vSmart controller is responsible for centralized control and policy distribution, while the vBond orchestrator handles authentication and NAT traversal. The vManage is the management plane. vEdge routers establish OMP sessions with vSmart, not with each other. Control plane traffic between vSmart and vEdge is secured with DTLS or TLS, not IPsec. The vBond is not involved in forwarding data traffic.
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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