350-701 Practice Question: Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement
The ISE logs show 'Authentication failed - RADIUS attribute Calling-Station-ID is missing' for a wired client. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
The switch is not configured to include the calling-station-id in RADIUS requests.
The switch must be configured to include the Calling-Station-ID (MAC address) in RADIUS requests (e.g., with the 'access-session include-attributes' command). If this attribute is missing, ISE will fail authentication with the specific error. Option B is incorrect because 'authentication mac-move deny' controls MAC mobility, not attribute delivery. Option C is incorrect because trunk ports can still support 802.1X; the port mode does not directly cause missing Calling-Station-ID. Option D is incorrect because if the MAC is not registered, ISE would return a different failure reason (e.g., 'Unknown client'), not a missing attribute.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The switch is not configured to include the calling-station-id in RADIUS requests.
Why this is correct
Correct. The switch must be configured to send the Calling-Station-ID (client MAC) in RADIUS Access-Requests. Without this attribute, ISE cannot identify the client and fails authentication.
- ✗
The switch is configured with 'authentication mac-move deny'.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'authentication mac-move deny' prevents a MAC address from moving between ports, but does not affect whether the Calling-Station-ID attribute is sent.
- ✗
The switch port is configured as a trunk port.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A trunk port can still perform 802.1X authentication; the port mode does not cause the Calling-Station-ID attribute to be missing.
- ✗
The client's MAC address is not registered in ISE.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. An unregistered MAC would cause a 'user not found' or 'authentication failed - no matching identity' error, not a missing Calling-Station-ID attribute error.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
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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.