The answer is a misconfigured class-map match statement for SSH traffic. This is the most likely cause because Control Plane Policing (CoPP) relies on precise classification within a class-map; if the match statement incorrectly specifies the protocol or port, SSH packets will not be assigned to the intended permit class and will instead fall through to a default drop class, while ICMP traffic—often matched by a separate class or a default permit action—continues to work. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of CoPP policy-map sequencing and class-map matching logic, a common trap where candidates overlook that a single wrong match in the class-map can silently drop critical management traffic. A useful memory tip is “match or mismatch”—if SSH drops but ICMP pings, suspect the match statement, not the policy action.
350-601 Security Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of security. 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 network administrator is configuring copp (Control Plane Policing) on a Cisco Nexus 9300 to protect the control plane from high-rate traffic. After applying the policy, the switch becomes unresponsive to SSH sessions, but ICMP still works. What is the most likely misconfiguration?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
In the class-map for SSH, the 'match' statement is incorrectly configured, causing SSH traffic to fall under a drop class.
Option D is correct because if the class-map for SSH traffic uses an incorrect match statement (e.g., matching on the wrong protocol or port), SSH packets will not be classified into the intended permit class. Instead, they fall through to a default drop class in the policy-map, causing SSH sessions to fail while ICMP (which may be matched by a different class or the default permit action) still works. CoPP relies on precise class-map matching; a misconfiguration here directly explains the selective loss of SSH access.
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.
✗
The control plane rate limit is set too low because the switch has many interfaces.
Why it's wrong here
Interface count does not affect control plane rate limit relative to CoPP.
✗
CoPP is not supported on the Nexus 9300 platform.
Why it's wrong here
CoPP is supported on Nexus 9300.
✗
The default action of the policy-map is to drop traffic not explicitly matched.
Why it's wrong here
Actually, the default action is to allow, but if no class matches, traffic might be dropped if a default class is used.
✓
In the class-map for SSH, the 'match' statement is incorrectly configured, causing SSH traffic to fall under a drop class.
Why this is correct
If SSH traffic is not matched or falls into a drop class, SSH would be blocked.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the nuance that CoPP policy-maps have an implicit 'permit' default unless a 'class class-default' with a drop action is explicitly configured, leading candidates to incorrectly assume a default drop is the cause when the real issue is a misclassification in the class-map.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CoPP uses MQC (Modular QoS CLI) to classify control-plane packets into classes based on ACLs, protocol types, or DSCP values. The policy-map applies actions (e.g., police, drop) to each class; if SSH traffic is misclassified into a class with a 'drop' action, it is silently discarded. In real-world scenarios, administrators often forget that CoPP policies are applied globally to the control plane, so a single misconfigured match statement can isolate the management plane while leaving other protocols like ICMP (which may match a different class or the default permit) unaffected.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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.
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: In the class-map for SSH, the 'match' statement is incorrectly configured, causing SSH traffic to fall under a drop class. — Option D is correct because if the class-map for SSH traffic uses an incorrect match statement (e.g., matching on the wrong protocol or port), SSH packets will not be classified into the intended permit class. Instead, they fall through to a default drop class in the policy-map, causing SSH sessions to fail while ICMP (which may be matched by a different class or the default permit action) still works. CoPP relies on precise class-map matching; a misconfiguration here directly explains the selective loss of SSH access.
What should I do if I get this 350-601 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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