The answer is that the BGP EVPN address-family is not activated. This is correct because VXLAN encapsulation requires BGP EVPN to exchange VNI-to-VTEP mappings between the NVE interface and remote VTEPs; without this address-family configured under the BGP process, the NVE1 interface remains up but cannot learn the remote endpoints needed to build the outer UDP/IP header for VXLAN traffic. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the control-plane dependency in VXLAN fabrics—a common trap is assuming the NVE interface being up means encapsulation is working, when in fact the data plane relies on BGP EVPN to populate the tunnel table. Remember the memory tip: “NVE up, no encap? Check the EVPN address-family map.”
350-601 Network Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of network. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
interface nve1
no shutdown
source-interface loopback0
member vni 10000 associate-vrf TenantA
Refer to the exhibit. A network engineer notices that the NVE1 interface is up but VXLAN traffic is not being encapsulated. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The BGP EVPN address-family is not activated.
Option D is correct because VXLAN traffic encapsulation on the NVE1 interface requires the BGP EVPN address-family to be activated under the BGP configuration to exchange VNI-to-VTEP mappings. Without this address-family, the NVE interface cannot learn remote VTEPs, so VXLAN packets are never encapsulated with the outer UDP/IP header.
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.
✗
The VNI 10000 is not mapped to a VLAN.
Why it's wrong here
The VNI is mapped to a VRF (associate-vrf), which is sufficient for Layer 3 VXLAN; no VLAN mapping is required for L3 VNI.
✗
The ingress replication protocol must be static.
Why it's wrong here
Ingress replication can be configured with BGP or static; BGP is valid, so this is not the issue.
✗
The loopback0 interface is not configured.
Why it's wrong here
The source-interface is configured, so loopback0 must exist; otherwise the NVE would not come up.
✓
The BGP EVPN address-family is not activated.
Why this is correct
EVPN requires MP-BGP with the l2vpn evpn address-family to exchange routes; without it, VXLAN encapsulation cannot function.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
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 an NVE interface being up means VXLAN encapsulation is fully functional, but the control plane (BGP EVPN) must be active to provide the necessary remote VTEP information.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In VXLAN EVPN, the NVE interface acts as the tunnel endpoint, but encapsulation only occurs after the local VTEP learns remote VTEP IP addresses and VNI mappings via BGP EVPN route type 2 or 3. Without the 'address-family l2vpn evpn' activated under BGP, the VTEP cannot exchange these routes, leaving the NVE interface up but with no remote peers to encapsulate traffic toward.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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: The BGP EVPN address-family is not activated. — Option D is correct because VXLAN traffic encapsulation on the NVE1 interface requires the BGP EVPN address-family to be activated under the BGP configuration to exchange VNI-to-VTEP mappings. Without this address-family, the NVE interface cannot learn remote VTEPs, so VXLAN packets are never encapsulated with the outer UDP/IP header.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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