350-501 Automation and Assurance Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of automation and assurance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 network engineer needs to automate configuration of multiple Cisco routers and wants to use a protocol that supports both datastore operations and selective retrieval of configuration. Which protocol should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
NETCONF
NETCONF is designed for configuration management with operations like get-config, edit-config, etc., and supports selective retrieval via filters. RESTCONF is simpler but less comprehensive. SNMPv3 is for monitoring, not configuration. gRPC is primarily for streaming telemetry. OpenFlow is for SDN forwarding.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
SNMPv3
Why it's wrong here
SNMPv3 is used for monitoring and management, not for configuration automation.
✗
gRPC
Why it's wrong here
gRPC is typically used for streaming telemetry, not for configuration management.
✓
NETCONF
Why this is correct
NETCONF supports full datastore operations and selective retrieval using XPath filters.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
OpenFlow
Why it's wrong here
OpenFlow is a protocol for SDN forwarding, not for device configuration.
✗
RESTCONF
Why it's wrong here
RESTCONF is simpler and supports CRUD operations but lacks comprehensive datastore operations like NETCONF.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 350-501 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 350-501 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Automation and Assurance — This question tests Automation and Assurance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: NETCONF — NETCONF is designed for configuration management with operations like get-config, edit-config, etc., and supports selective retrieval via filters. RESTCONF is simpler but less comprehensive. SNMPv3 is for monitoring, not configuration. gRPC is primarily for streaming telemetry. OpenFlow is for SDN forwarding.
What should I do if I get this 350-501 question wrong?
Identify which 350-501 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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