The answer is a shared contract between the two EPGs. In Cisco ACI, inter-tenant communication requires a contract that is marked as “shared,” which allows it to be applied across tenant boundaries without merging the underlying VRFs or bridge domains. The provider EPG in one tenant exposes services through this shared contract, while the consumer EPG in another tenant can then reference it, enabling policy-based traffic flow between tenants. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this concept tests your understanding of ACI’s multi-tenant architecture and the distinction between intra-tenant and inter-tenant contracts—a common trap is assuming that a regular contract or a VRF leak alone will suffice. Remember: a contract must be explicitly shared to cross tenants; think of it as a “passport” that allows policy to travel between isolated administrative domains.
350-601 Network Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of network. 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 organization is deploying a new leaf-spine fabric with Cisco ACI. The requirement is to allow inter-tenant communication between two EPGs in different tenants. Which configuration object is necessary to enable this communication?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A shared contract between the two EPGs.
In Cisco ACI, inter-tenant communication between EPGs in different tenants requires a shared contract. A contract defines the rules (filters) that permit traffic between EPGs, and when it is marked as 'shared,' it can be consumed by EPGs across tenant boundaries. This allows the provider EPG in one tenant to expose services to a consumer EPG in another tenant without merging the tenants' VRFs or bridge domains.
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.
✗
A common VRF that spans both tenants.
Why it's wrong here
VRF provides Layer 3 isolation; a shared VRF alone does not enable EPG communication.
✗
A filter that permits the required traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Filters are used within contracts; they do not enable inter-EPG communication by themselves.
✗
A bridge domain that connects both EPGs.
Why it's wrong here
Bridge domains are Layer 2 constructs within a tenant.
✓
A shared contract between the two EPGs.
Why this is correct
Contracts define allowed communication; shared contracts work across tenants.
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 misconception that a shared VRF or bridge domain is required for inter-tenant communication, but the correct mechanism is a shared contract that applies policy across tenant boundaries without merging the underlying network constructs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A shared contract in ACI uses the 'scope' attribute set to 'global' or 'tenant' to allow EPGs from different tenants to communicate. Under the hood, the contract is instantiated as a policy in the common tenant's VRF (if scope is global) or within the provider's tenant, and the consumer EPG references it via a 'consumed contract interface.' This enables micro-segmentation across tenants while maintaining isolation of tenant-specific configurations like bridge domains and VRFs.
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.
Network — This question tests Network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A shared contract between the two EPGs. — In Cisco ACI, inter-tenant communication between EPGs in different tenants requires a shared contract. A contract defines the rules (filters) that permit traffic between EPGs, and when it is marked as 'shared,' it can be consumed by EPGs across tenant boundaries. This allows the provider EPG in one tenant to expose services to a consumer EPG in another tenant without merging the tenants' VRFs or bridge domains.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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