350-601 Network Practice Question
A network engineer is troubleshooting VXLAN connectivity between two VTEPs. The source VTEP is configured with `nve1` and member VNI 10000. The `show nve peers` command shows the remote VTEP IP but the status is 'Init'. What is a likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between control-plane and data-plane issues; the trap here is that candidates assume 'Init' means a configuration mismatch (like VNI or VRF) rather than an underlay multicast reachability problem, because they overlook that VXLAN multicast mode requires a functional underlay multicast tree for peer establishment.
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 multicast group is not reachable.
The 'Init' status in the output of 'show nve peers' indicates that the VXLAN tunnel endpoint (VTEP) has learned the remote VTEP IP address (likely via BGP EVPN or static configuration) but is unable to complete the tunnel establishment. In VXLAN multicast mode, the underlay multicast group is used for BUM traffic and for VTEP discovery. If the multicast group is not reachable (e.g., due to missing PIM configuration, incorrect RP, or firewall filtering), the source VTEP cannot receive the multicast join or data from the remote VTEP, leaving the peer stuck in 'Init' state.
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 multicast group is not reachable.
Why this is correct
VXLAN relies on multicast for BUM traffic; if the multicast group is unreachable, the peer remains in 'Init'.
- ✗
The remote VTEP is not configured with the same VNI.
Why it's wrong here
VNI mismatch would cause traffic drops but not necessarily keep the peer in 'Init' state; the peer could still be 'Up' with no VNI mapping.
- ✗
The MTU is too low.
Why it's wrong here
MTU issues cause fragmentation or drops, not peer state 'Init'.
- ✗
The VRF is mismatched between the VTEPs.
Why it's wrong here
VRF mismatch affects Layer 3 routing but does not prevent NVE peer establishment.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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