350-501 Networking Practice Question
A client reports intermittent connectivity issues when accessing a server across a provider MPLS network. The issue occurs only during peak hours. Which component should be checked first?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the principle that intermittent issues during peak hours are almost always due to congestion or interface errors at the edge, not control-plane or core problems, leading candidates to incorrectly focus on BGP or MPLS labels.
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
✓
Interface errors and discards on the CE router.
Intermittent connectivity during peak hours strongly suggests a bandwidth or queuing issue at the edge of the MPLS network. Interface errors (e.g., CRC, runts) and discards on the CE router indicate congestion or Layer 1/2 problems, which are the most common cause of such time-dependent symptoms. Checking this first aligns with the standard troubleshooting methodology of verifying the physical and data-link layers before moving to higher-layer protocols.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
BGP peering status between CE and PE.
Why it's wrong here
BGP sessions are usually stable; intermittent issues are more likely due to interface errors.
- ✗
CPU utilization of the server.
Why it's wrong here
Server CPU is a host issue, not a network root cause.
- ✓
Interface errors and discards on the CE router.
Why this is correct
Peak traffic can cause output discards or CRC errors, leading to connectivity drops.
- ✗
MPLS labels in the core.
Why it's wrong here
MPLS labels are static and do not cause intermittent issues.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-501 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 350-501 exam.