- A
gRPC
Why wrong: gRPC is not typically used in NSO.
- B
SNMP
Why wrong: SNMP is used for monitoring, not configuration management in NSO.
- C
HTTP
Why wrong: RESTCONF is used, but plain HTTP is not the protocol.
- D
NETCONF
NETCONF is the primary southbound protocol for NSO.
Question 503 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.
Which protocol is used by NSO to communicate with network devices for configuration management?
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
✓
NETCONF
NSO (Network Services Orchestrator) uses NETCONF as its primary protocol for configuration management because NETCONF provides a standardized, transaction-based mechanism for editing device configurations using YANG data models. This allows NSO to perform atomic, rollback-capable configuration changes across multiple network devices, which is essential for service orchestration.
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.
- ✗
gRPC
Why it's wrong here
gRPC is not typically used in NSO.
- ✗
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP is used for monitoring, not configuration management in NSO.
- ✗
HTTP
Why it's wrong here
RESTCONF is used, but plain HTTP is not the protocol.
- ✓
NETCONF
Why this is correct
NETCONF is the primary southbound protocol for NSO.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between management protocols (NETCONF) and monitoring protocols (SNMP/gRPC), leading candidates to confuse SNMP's widespread use with configuration capabilities.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NETCONF operates over SSH (RFC 6242) and uses XML-encoded RPCs to manipulate device configurations within a candidate or running datastore. NSO leverages NETCONF's <edit-config> and <commit> operations to ensure configuration changes are applied atomically, with automatic rollback on failure. In real-world deployments, NSO acts as a NETCONF manager, translating service-level YANG models into device-specific CLI or NETCONF operations.
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.
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Automation and Quality of Services — study guide chapter
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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: NETCONF — NSO (Network Services Orchestrator) uses NETCONF as its primary protocol for configuration management because NETCONF provides a standardized, transaction-based mechanism for editing device configurations using YANG data models. This allows NSO to perform atomic, rollback-capable configuration changes across multiple network devices, which is essential for service orchestration.
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
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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.
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