Quick Answer
The answer is gRPC, which is the recommended protocol for streaming model-driven telemetry from NX-OS to a collector. This is because gRPC leverages HTTP/2 for efficient, bidirectional streaming and supports structured data encoding like Protobuf or JSON, allowing NX-OS to push high-frequency telemetry data with low latency and minimal overhead, unlike traditional polling-based methods. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this concept tests your understanding of modern telemetry architectures, often appearing in questions that contrast gRPC with SNMP or NETCONF; a common trap is assuming NETCONF is preferred for streaming, but gRPC is specifically designed for push-based, high-frequency model-driven telemetry on NX-OS. Remember the memory tip: “GRPC Gets Real-time Push Continuously” to recall that gRPC is the go-to for streaming telemetry.
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of automation. 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 recommended for streaming model-driven telemetry from NX-OS to a collector?
FTP
Why wrong: FTP is for file transfer, not streaming.
SNMP
Why wrong: SNMP is traditional but not model-driven telemetry.
HTTP
Why wrong: HTTP is not a streaming protocol.
gRPC
gRPC with protobuf is the recommended transport for MDT.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
gRPC
gRPC (Google Remote Procedure Call) is the recommended protocol for streaming model-driven telemetry from NX-OS to a collector because it provides efficient, bidirectional streaming over HTTP/2, supports structured data encoding (e.g., Protobuf or JSON), and is natively supported in NX-OS for high-frequency, push-based telemetry. Unlike polling-based protocols, gRPC enables the device to continuously stream operational data to the collector with low latency and minimal overhead.
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.
FTP
Why it's wrong here
FTP is for file transfer, not streaming.
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP is traditional but not model-driven telemetry.
HTTP
Why it's wrong here
HTTP is not a streaming protocol.
gRPC
Why this is correct
gRPC with protobuf is the recommended transport for MDT.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that HTTP or SNMP can handle streaming telemetry, but the trap is that SNMP is pull-based and HTTP lacks the persistent, bidirectional streaming capabilities of gRPC, which is the only option that natively supports the push-based, subscription-driven model required for NX-OS telemetry.
Detailed technical explanation
NX-OS implements gRPC-based telemetry using the 'telemetry' feature, where you configure a destination group with an IP address and port (default 50051) and a sensor group that defines the paths (e.g., 'show interface' or YANG models) to stream. The gRPC protocol uses Protocol Buffers (protobuf) for efficient serialization, reducing bandwidth compared to JSON, and supports TLS encryption for secure transmission. In real-world deployments, gRPC telemetry is critical for monitoring large-scale data center fabrics where millisecond-level latency and lossless streaming of interface counters or BGP state changes are required.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Automation — This question tests Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: gRPC — gRPC (Google Remote Procedure Call) is the recommended protocol for streaming model-driven telemetry from NX-OS to a collector because it provides efficient, bidirectional streaming over HTTP/2, supports structured data encoding (e.g., Protobuf or JSON), and is natively supported in NX-OS for high-frequency, push-based telemetry. Unlike polling-based protocols, gRPC enables the device to continuously stream operational data to the collector with low latency and minimal overhead.
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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