350-601 Network Practice Question
Which protocol is used by Cisco ACI fabric to distribute endpoint information among spines?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
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.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.