350-501 Architecture Practice Question
A service provider is deploying Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) and needs to ensure that the forwarding plane can support SRv6 encapsulated packets. Which hardware capability is most critical for SRv6 at the line rate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that SRv6 is MPLS-based, leading candidates to incorrectly select MPLS label swap capability, but SRv6 is an IPv6-native technology that relies on IPv6 extension header processing.
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
✓
IPv6 extension header processing
SRv6 (Segment Routing over IPv6) encapsulates packets with an IPv6 header containing a Segment Routing Header (SRH), which is a type of IPv6 extension header. For line-rate forwarding, the hardware must natively process IPv6 extension headers in the forwarding plane without punting to the CPU, as software processing would cause performance degradation. Option C is correct because this capability is the most critical for SRv6 at line rate.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
MPLS label swap capability
Why it's wrong here
SRv6 does not use MPLS; it uses IPv6 extension headers.
- ✗
VXLAN tunnel termination
Why it's wrong here
VXLAN is an overlay technology not directly related to SRv6.
- ✓
IPv6 extension header processing
Why this is correct
SRv6 uses the SRH, an IPv6 extension header, requiring line-rate processing.
- ✗
NAT64 translation support
Why it's wrong here
NAT64 is for IPv6-IPv4 translation, not required for SRv6.
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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.