This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of secure network access, visibility and enforcement. 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.
A junior engineer is configuring MAB (MAC Authentication Bypass) on a Cisco switch for legacy printers. After configuration, the printers are still being placed into the default VLAN instead of the authorized VLAN. Which configuration is missing?
authentication port-control auto
Why wrong: This command enables authentication, but without order, MAB may not be attempted.
authentication order mab
This sets MAB as the first authentication method, ensuring it is used.
dot1x pae authenticator
Why wrong: This is for 802.1X and not required for MAB.
spanning-tree portfast
Why wrong: Portfast affects STP convergence, not authentication.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
authentication order mab
Option D is correct because the 'authentication order mab' command ensures that MAB is attempted before 802.1X. Without it, the switch may first try 802.1X, which fails, and then fall back to MAB, but if the order is not set, MAB might not be tried at all. Option A is incorrect because 'authentication port-control auto' enables authentication, which is likely already configured. Option B is incorrect because 'dot1x pae authenticator' is for 802.1X but not required for MAB. Option C is incorrect because 'spanning-tree portfast' is for convergence, not authentication.
Key principle: A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
authentication port-control auto
Why it's wrong here
This command enables authentication, but without order, MAB may not be attempted.
authentication order mab
Why this is correct
This sets MAB as the first authentication method, ensuring it is used.
Related concept
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
dot1x pae authenticator
Why it's wrong here
This is for 802.1X and not required for MAB.
spanning-tree portfast
Common exam traps
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This command enables authentication, but without order, MAB may not be attempted.
Detailed technical explanation
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
Key takeaway
A trunk being up does not mean the VLAN is allowed across it. Always verify the allowed VLAN list and whether the VLAN exists on both switches.
Real-world example
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
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 350-701 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
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FAQ
Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement — This question tests Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement — Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN..
The correct answer is: authentication order mab — Option D is correct because the 'authentication order mab' command ensures that MAB is attempted before 802.1X. Without it, the switch may first try 802.1X, which fails, and then fall back to MAB, but if the order is not set, MAB might not be tried at all. Option A is incorrect because 'authentication port-control auto' enables authentication, which is likely already configured. Option B is incorrect because 'dot1x pae authenticator' is for 802.1X but not required for MAB. Option C is incorrect because 'spanning-tree portfast' is for convergence, not authentication.
Review VLAN allowed lists, native VLAN mismatch detection, and how to verify VLAN membership with show vlan brief and show interfaces trunk. Then practise related 350-701 questions on switching, trunking, and access-port configuration.
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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