200-901 Cisco Platforms and Development Practice Question
A developer is using the Cisco NX-API on a Cisco Nexus switch to retrieve the running configuration. The developer sends an HTTP POST request to the NX-API endpoint with the JSON payload: {"ins_api": {"version": "1.0", "type": "cli_show", "chassis": "1", "input": "show running-config", "output_format": "json"}}. The switch returns an error indicating that the command is not supported. What is the most likely reason?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any show command can return JSON output, when in fact some commands only produce ASCII and require a different type.
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
✓
The 'show running-config' command requires the 'cli_show_ascii' type instead of 'cli_show'.
The NX-API uses different types for commands: 'cli_show' for structured JSON output and 'cli_show_ascii' for ASCII text output. The 'show running-config' command does not support JSON output, so it must be requested with 'cli_show_ascii'. The error occurs because the developer used 'cli_show' with a command that lacks JSON support. Changing the type to 'cli_show_ascii' resolves the issue.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The 'show running-config' command requires the 'cli_show_ascii' type instead of 'cli_show'.
Why this is correct
The NX-API distinguishes between commands that return structured JSON output and those that return ASCII text. The 'show running-config' command does not have a JSON schema, so it must be requested with type 'cli_show_ascii'. Using 'cli_show' expects structured output and fails for this command. Thus, the developer must change the type.
- ✗
The NX-API requires the 'input' field to be a list of commands, not a single string.
Why it's wrong here
The 'input' field can be a single command string or a list. The error is not about the format of 'input'; it is about the command type. 'show running-config' is a valid command but must be requested with 'cli_show_ascii' to return ASCII output. Thus, this is not the reason for the error.
- ✗
The 'output_format' should be set to 'ascii' instead of 'json'.
Why it's wrong here
The 'output_format' field is not the primary determinant for command support. The NX-API uses the 'type' field to specify the command type. Even if 'output_format' is 'ascii', using 'cli_show' for a command without JSON support would still fail. The correct fix is to change the 'type' to 'cli_show_ascii'.
- ✗
The 'chassis' field must be omitted for commands that are not chassis-specific.
Why it's wrong here
The 'chassis' field is used to specify the chassis ID in a multi-chassis setup. For a standalone switch, it can be '1' or omitted. The error is not related to the chassis field; it is due to the command type. 'show running-config' is valid but requires the correct type.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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