The answer is the 'show mpls traffic-eng tunnels' command, because it provides a comprehensive view of MPLS TE tunnel operations, including path calculation status and RSVP signaling errors. This command displays the tunnel's state, its signaled bandwidth, and any path computation failures or resource reservation problems, making it the go-to tool for verifying TE tunnel health and isolating issues like insufficient RSVP resources or misconfigured constraints. On the Cisco SPCOR / CCNP Service Provider Core 350-501 exam, this command tests your ability to differentiate between control-plane and data-plane TE troubleshooting—a common trap is confusing it with 'show mpls traffic-eng topology' or 'show mpls lsp', which lack RSVP error details. For a quick memory tip, think "Tunnels Tell Troubles": the command's output reveals the tunnel's path, RSVP state, and any errors, directly answering whether the TE tunnel is up and correctly signaled.
350-501 MPLS and Segment Routing Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of mpls and segment routing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
An engineer is troubleshooting MPLS traffic engineering tunnels and needs to verify path calculation and RSVP errors. Which command should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
show mpls traffic-eng tunnels
Option C is correct because the 'show mpls traffic-eng tunnels' command displays detailed information about MPLS TE tunnels, including path calculation status, RSVP signaling errors, and tunnel state. This command is specifically designed to verify TE tunnel operations and troubleshoot issues such as path computation failures or RSVP resource reservation problems.
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.
✗
show ip route
Why it's wrong here
This shows the IP routing table, not MPLS TE information.
✗
show mpls ldp neighbor
Why it's wrong here
This command shows LDP neighbors, not TE tunnel status.
✓
show mpls traffic-eng tunnels
Why this is correct
This command provides details on TE tunnels, including path computation and signaling status.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
debug mpls lfib errors
Why it's wrong here
Debug commands are used for real-time troubleshooting but are not a show command for verification.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between MPLS TE-specific commands and general MPLS or routing commands, so the trap here is that candidates might confuse 'show mpls ldp neighbor' (for LDP-based label distribution) with TE tunnel verification, or mistakenly think 'debug mpls lfib errors' is appropriate for RSVP path errors when it actually targets LFIB corruption issues.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This shows the IP routing table, not MPLS TE information.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MPLS TE tunnels use RSVP-TE for signaling and path computation, where the head-end router calculates the explicit path using CSPF (Constrained Shortest Path First) based on IGP link-state information and TE attributes. The 'show mpls traffic-eng tunnels' command reveals the tunnel's path option, signaled bandwidth, and any RSVP error codes (e.g., 'PathErr' or 'ResvErr') that indicate issues like admission control failures or neighbor unreachability. In real-world scenarios, this command is critical for diagnosing why a TE tunnel fails to come up, such as when a link lacks sufficient reservable bandwidth or when RSVP hello failures occur.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
MPLS and Segment Routing — This question tests MPLS and Segment Routing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: show mpls traffic-eng tunnels — Option C is correct because the 'show mpls traffic-eng tunnels' command displays detailed information about MPLS TE tunnels, including path calculation status, RSVP signaling errors, and tunnel state. This command is specifically designed to verify TE tunnel operations and troubleshoot issues such as path computation failures or RSVP resource reservation problems.
What should I do if I get this 350-501 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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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