350-601 Automation Practice Question
Which tool provides a programmatic HTTP-based interface to execute CLI commands on Cisco Nexus switches and returns structured JSON data?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between tools that provide a direct HTTP-based API (like NX-API) versus automation or scripting libraries (like Ansible, pyATS, or Netmiko) that use other protocols (SSH) or are higher-level frameworks, leading candidates to confuse the interface layer with the tool that consumes it.
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
✓
NX-API
NX-API (Option D) is the correct answer because it provides a programmatic HTTP/HTTPS-based interface that allows you to send CLI commands to Cisco Nexus switches and receive structured JSON (or XML) responses. This enables automation and integration without requiring an SSH session, directly fulfilling the question's requirement for an HTTP-based interface with structured JSON output.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ansible
Why it's wrong here
Ansible is an automation tool, not an HTTP interface; it uses modules that may invoke NX-API.
- ✗
pyATS
Why it's wrong here
pyATS is a testing framework, not an HTTP interface.
- ✗
Netmiko
Why it's wrong here
Netmiko is an SSH library, not HTTP-based.
- ✓
NX-API
Why this is correct
NX-API is the HTTP/HTTPS interface that accepts CLI commands and returns JSON/XML.
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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.