350-501 Architecture Practice Question
Which TWO are essential components for deploying EVPN in a service provider network?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that a specific underlay protocol (like OSPF) is mandatory for EVPN, when in fact only the overlay encapsulation and BGP control plane are essential, while the underlay can be any IP-routed network.
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
✓
Overlay tunnel encapsulation such as VXLAN or MPLS
A is correct because EVPN requires an overlay tunnel encapsulation to transport Layer 2 frames across the IP/MPLS underlay. VXLAN (RFC 7348) and MPLS (RFC 7432) are the two primary encapsulations used to carry Ethernet frames over the overlay, enabling MAC address learning and forwarding in the EVPN control plane.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Overlay tunnel encapsulation such as VXLAN or MPLS
Why this is correct
EVPN requires an overlay for traffic forwarding.
- ✗
OSPF as the underlay routing protocol
Why it's wrong here
Any IGP can be underlay; OSPF not mandatory.
- ✓
BGP for MAC/VPN route advertisement
Why this is correct
BGP EVPN address family is the control plane.
- ✗
PIM-SM for multicast replication
Why it's wrong here
EVPN can use ingress replication or PIM; not essential.
- ✗
RSVP-TE for path computation
Why it's wrong here
EVPN uses BGP for control plane, not RSVP.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
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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.