Quick Answer
The answer is the Council of Oracle Protocol (COOP). This is correct because COOP is the lightweight, publish-subscribe protocol that Cisco ACI fabric uses to distribute endpoint information—specifically IP-to-MAC bindings and their location—among spine switches, ensuring all spines maintain a consistent endpoint database without the overhead of a full routing protocol. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this concept tests your understanding of ACI control plane operations; a common trap is confusing COOP with OSPF or BGP, which handle routing, not endpoint distribution. A useful memory tip: think of COOP as the “co-op” of spines—they cooperate to share the endpoint “oracle” database, keeping every spine in the loop without flooding the fabric.
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of network. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 protocol is used by Cisco ACI fabric to distribute endpoint information among spines?
IS-IS
Why wrong: IS-IS is the primary underlay routing protocol in ACI, but it does not carry endpoint information.
OSPF
Why wrong: OSPF is used for underlay routing in some designs, but not for endpoint distribution.
BGP
Why wrong: BGP is used externally for WAN connections, but not for internal endpoint distribution in ACI.
COOP
COOP (Council of Oracles Protocol) is the ACI-specific protocol for endpoint database distribution.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
COOP
D is correct because the Cisco ACI fabric uses the Council of Oracle Protocol (COOP) specifically to distribute endpoint information (such as IP-to-MAC bindings and location) among spine switches. COOP operates as a lightweight, publish-subscribe protocol that runs between leaf and spine switches, ensuring that all spines maintain a consistent endpoint database without the overhead of a full routing protocol.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
IS-IS
Why it's wrong here
IS-IS is the primary underlay routing protocol in ACI, but it does not carry endpoint information.
OSPF
Why it's wrong here
OSPF is used for underlay routing in some designs, but not for endpoint distribution.
BGP
Why it's wrong here
BGP is used externally for WAN connections, but not for internal endpoint distribution in ACI.
COOP
Why this is correct
COOP (Council of Oracles Protocol) is the ACI-specific protocol for endpoint database distribution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between the underlay routing protocol (IS-IS) and the overlay endpoint distribution protocol (COOP), so candidates mistakenly choose IS-IS because they recall it is used in ACI, but they fail to recognize that endpoint distribution is a separate function handled by COOP.
Detailed technical explanation
COOP operates as a logical database that leaf switches populate with locally learned endpoints (via ARP, DHCP, or data-plane gleaning), and spines subscribe to this information to build a global endpoint table. This design allows any leaf to forward traffic to any endpoint without flooding, as the spine can resolve the destination leaf based on the COOP database. In a real-world scenario, if a leaf switch fails, COOP ensures that the spine updates its endpoint mappings within seconds, maintaining seamless traffic flow.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
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FAQ
Network — This question tests Network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: COOP — D is correct because the Cisco ACI fabric uses the Council of Oracle Protocol (COOP) specifically to distribute endpoint information (such as IP-to-MAC bindings and location) among spine switches. COOP operates as a lightweight, publish-subscribe protocol that runs between leaf and spine switches, ensuring that all spines maintain a consistent endpoint database without the overhead of a full routing protocol.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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