Quick Answer
The answer is the `nxapi` Python library, which is specifically designed for automating configuration backups and other management tasks on Cisco NX-OS switches. This library provides a Pythonic interface to the NX-API, enabling engineers to execute CLI commands and retrieve structured output via HTTP/HTTPS-based REST or XML/JSON-RPC calls, making it the ideal tool for programmatic backup workflows. On the Cisco DCCOR and CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this question tests your understanding of the NX-OS automation ecosystem, often contrasting `nxapi` with general-purpose libraries like `requests` or `paramiko`—a common trap where candidates overlook the purpose-built nature of `nxapi`. The exam expects you to recognize that while other libraries can send HTTP requests, only `nxapi` offers native NX-OS data parsing and error handling. Memory tip: think "NX-API needs nxapi"—the library name mirrors the API it wraps, so if the task involves NX-OS automation, the library with "nx" in its name is your direct answer.
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of automation. 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.
An engineer needs to automate configuration backups on NX-OS switches using Python. Which Python library is specifically designed for this purpose?
requests
Why wrong: Requests is a generic HTTP library, not specifically for NX-OS automation.
paramiko
Why wrong: Paramiko is for SSH, not optimized for NX-OS NX-API.
cli
Why wrong: 'cli' is not a Python library; it's a command-line interface.
nxapi
nxapi is the official Python library for NX-OS NX-API.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
nxapi
The `nxapi` library is specifically designed for automating configuration backups and other management tasks on Cisco NX-OS switches. It provides a Pythonic interface to the NX-API, which uses HTTP/HTTPS-based REST or XML/JSON-RPC calls to execute CLI commands and retrieve structured output, making it the correct choice for this purpose.
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.
requests
Why it's wrong here
Requests is a generic HTTP library, not specifically for NX-OS automation.
paramiko
Why it's wrong here
Paramiko is for SSH, not optimized for NX-OS NX-API.
cli
Why it's wrong here
'cli' is not a Python library; it's a command-line interface.
nxapi
Why this is correct
nxapi is the official Python library for NX-OS NX-API.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between generic libraries (like `requests` or `paramiko`) and platform-specific libraries (like `nxapi`), trapping candidates who overlook that `nxapi` provides built-in NX-OS command formatting and authentication, whereas `requests` would require manual construction of NX-API payloads.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
'cli' is not a Python library; it's a command-line interface.
Detailed technical explanation
The `nxapi` library leverages the NX-API feature, which must be enabled on the switch (e.g., via `feature nxapi` and `nxapi http port 80`). It supports both JSON-RPC and XML-RPC, allowing structured data exchange (e.g., JSON output from `show running-config`) that can be parsed programmatically for backup verification. In real-world scenarios, `nxapi` simplifies tasks like periodic backup scripts by handling session cookies, authentication tokens, and error codes (e.g., HTTP 200 for success, 400 for malformed requests) without low-level HTTP or SSH coding.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 350-601 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Automation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Automation — This question tests Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: nxapi — The `nxapi` library is specifically designed for automating configuration backups and other management tasks on Cisco NX-OS switches. It provides a Pythonic interface to the NX-API, which uses HTTP/HTTPS-based REST or XML/JSON-RPC calls to execute CLI commands and retrieve structured output, making it the correct choice for this purpose.
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
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.
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