easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
350-701 Practice Question: An engineer is troubleshooting a site-to-site…
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
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.
- ✗
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.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-701 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 350-701 exam.