Quick Answer
The answer is the command show crypto isakmp sa, which is the correct choice because it directly displays the state of IKE Phase 1 security associations, confirming whether the ISAKMP tunnel has been established. A successful Phase 1 negotiation is indicated by a state of MM_ACTIVE for Main Mode or QM_IDLE for Aggressive Mode, meaning the peers have mutually authenticated and agreed on encryption and hashing parameters. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this command tests your ability to isolate Phase 1 failures from Phase 2 issues; a common trap is confusing it with show crypto ipsec sa, which verifies Phase 2 IPsec SAs instead. Remember that Phase 1 must be active before Phase 2 can proceed, so if you see MM_NO_STATE or MM_WAIT_MSG, the tunnel is stuck in negotiation. A helpful memory tip is to associate "isakmp" with "IKE" and "active" with "alive"—if the SA shows active, Phase 1 is done.
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of network security. 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.
An engineer is troubleshooting a site-to-site IPsec VPN between two Cisco routers. The tunnel is not establishing. Which command would verify that IKE phase 1 negotiations have completed successfully?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
show crypto ipsec sa
Why wrong: This command shows IPsec phase 2 SAs, not IKE phase 1.
show crypto isakmp sa
This command displays IKE phase 1 security associations.
show crypto map
Why wrong: This shows the crypto map configuration, not negotiation status.
debug crypto isakmp
Why wrong: Debug commands are for real-time troubleshooting, not for verification.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
show crypto isakmp sa
The 'show crypto isakmp sa' command displays the state of IKE (Internet Key Exchange) Phase 1 security associations (SAs). A successful Phase 1 negotiation is indicated by a state of 'MM_ACTIVE' (Main Mode) or 'QM_IDLE' (Aggressive Mode), confirming that the peers have mutually authenticated and established a secure ISAKMP tunnel. This is the direct verification command for Phase 1 completion.
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.
show crypto ipsec sa
Why it's wrong here
This command shows IPsec phase 2 SAs, not IKE phase 1.
show crypto isakmp sa
Why this is correct
This command displays IKE phase 1 security associations.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
show crypto map
Why it's wrong here
This shows the crypto map configuration, not negotiation status.
debug crypto isakmp
Why it's wrong here
Debug commands are for real-time troubleshooting, not for verification.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between Phase 1 (ISAKMP) and Phase 2 (IPsec) commands, trapping candidates who confuse 'show crypto ipsec sa' (Phase 2) with 'show crypto isakmp sa' (Phase 1) for verifying IKE negotiations.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This command shows IPsec phase 2 SAs, not IKE phase 1.
Detailed technical explanation
IKE Phase 1 uses either Main Mode (6 messages) or Aggressive Mode (3 messages) to establish a secure channel. The 'show crypto isakmp sa' output includes fields like 'State', 'Conn-ID', and 'Peer', where a state of 'MM_ACTIVE' indicates the tunnel is fully established. In a real-world scenario, if the state shows 'MM_NO_STATE' or 'AG_INIT_EXCH', the tunnel is still negotiating or has failed, prompting further investigation into pre-shared key mismatches or ACL issues.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 350-701 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: show crypto isakmp sa — The 'show crypto isakmp sa' command displays the state of IKE (Internet Key Exchange) Phase 1 security associations (SAs). A successful Phase 1 negotiation is indicated by a state of 'MM_ACTIVE' (Main Mode) or 'QM_IDLE' (Aggressive Mode), confirming that the peers have mutually authenticated and established a secure ISAKMP tunnel. This is the direct verification command for Phase 1 completion.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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