350-601 Automation Practice Question
A Python script using NX-API returns HTTP 401. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco may attempt to mislead candidates into thinking that a 401 error is due to the API not being enabled, exploiting the common confusion between service unavailability and authentication failures. However, standard HTTP semantics dictate that 401 is specifically tied to failed authentication.
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
✓
Invalid credentials
HTTP 401 Unauthorized indicates that the server understood the request but authentication is required and has failed or has not been provided. In the context of NX-API, this error is most directly caused by providing invalid or missing credentials (Option D). If NX-API is not enabled on the switch, the endpoint is unavailable and typically results in an HTTP 404 Not Found or a connection error, not a 401.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Wrong NX-API version in URL
Why it's wrong here
Wrong version gives a different HTTP error (e.g., 404).
- ✗
Firewall blocking port 443
Why it's wrong here
Firewall block results in connection timeout, not HTTP 401.
- ✗
NX-API not enabled on the switch
Why it's wrong here
If NX-API is not enabled, the HTTP endpoint may return 401 (or 404) – but typically 401 due to lack of authentication context. In practice, enabling NX-API is required for authentication to work.
- ✓
Invalid credentials
Why this is correct
Invalid credentials cause 401, but more specifically, missing or wrong username/password.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This 350-601 question is part of Courseiva's 984-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-601 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 350-601 exam.