- A
RESTCONF
Correct; RESTCONF is also southbound.
- B
NETCONF
Correct; NETCONF is a southbound protocol.
- C
gRPC
Why wrong: Incorrect; gRPC is not standard NSO southbound.
- D
SNMP
Why wrong: Incorrect; SNMP is not typically used for configuration in NSO.
- E
HTTP
Why wrong: Incorrect; plain HTTP is not a standard southbound.
Question 48 of 1,000
350-501 Automation and Quality of Services Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of automation and quality of services. 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.
An SP uses NSO for automation. Which TWO protocols can NSO use as southbound interfaces to communicate with network devices? (Choose two.)
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
✓
RESTCONF
RESTCONF is a southbound interface that NSO uses to communicate with network devices. It is a RESTful protocol that uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to access YANG-defined data models, making it suitable for modern programmable devices. NSO leverages RESTCONF to configure and manage devices that support this protocol, providing a standardized, stateless interface for automation.
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.
- ✓
RESTCONF
Why this is correct
Correct; RESTCONF is also southbound.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
NETCONF
Why this is correct
Correct; NETCONF is a southbound protocol.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
gRPC
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; gRPC is not standard NSO southbound.
- ✗
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; SNMP is not typically used for configuration in NSO.
- ✗
HTTP
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; plain HTTP is not a standard southbound.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between protocols that NSO uses natively as southbound interfaces (NETCONF, RESTCONF) versus protocols that are merely supported by devices but not used by NSO for configuration automation, such as SNMP or plain HTTP.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NSO uses NETCONF (RFC 6241) and RESTCONF (RFC 8040) as its primary southbound interfaces because both are YANG-driven, enabling transactional, model-based configuration management. Under the hood, NSO translates service models into device-specific CLI or SNMP commands via its Network Element Drivers (NEDs), but for native YANG-capable devices, it directly uses NETCONF or RESTCONF to push configuration changes with rollback support. In real-world SP networks, this allows NSO to manage multi-vendor environments consistently, as both protocols abstract device-specific syntax into a unified data model.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Automation and Quality of Services — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Automation and Quality of Services practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 350-501 questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Cisco SPCOR / CCNP Service Provider Core 350-501 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
350-501 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 350-501 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
MPLS and Segment Routing practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to MPLS and Segment Routing.
Automation and Quality of Services practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to Automation and Quality of Services.
Architecture practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to Architecture.
Networking practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to Networking.
Security and Services practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to Security and Services.
Automation and Quality of Service practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to Automation and Quality of Service.
Services practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to Services.
Automation and Assurance practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to Automation and Assurance.
350-501 fundamentals practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to 350-501 fundamentals.
350-501 scenario practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to 350-501 scenario.
350-501 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise 350-501 questions linked to 350-501 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free 350-501 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-501 question test?
Automation and Quality of Services — This question tests Automation and Quality of Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: RESTCONF — RESTCONF is a southbound interface that NSO uses to communicate with network devices. It is a RESTful protocol that uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to access YANG-defined data models, making it suitable for modern programmable devices. NSO leverages RESTCONF to configure and manage devices that support this protocol, providing a standardized, stateless interface for automation.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.