200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
A developer wants to automate the configuration of multiple Cisco IOS-XE devices using Ansible. Which protocol should be used to ensure secure and idempotent configuration updates?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between protocols used for monitoring (SNMP) versus those used for secure configuration management (SSH), and candidates may mistakenly choose SNMP because they associate it with network management, overlooking that Ansible specifically requires an interactive, secure shell for idempotent configuration pushes.
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
✓
SSH
SSH (Secure Shell) is the correct protocol because it provides encrypted, authenticated remote access to Cisco IOS-XE devices, which is essential for secure automation. Ansible uses SSH to connect to network devices and execute configuration commands idempotently by comparing the desired state (defined in playbooks) against the current device state, ensuring only necessary changes are applied without duplication or disruption.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Telnet
Why it's wrong here
Telnet transmits credentials and configuration in cleartext and offers no transactional, idempotent configuration model. It is tempting because it is simple and universally available on IOS-XE, but the stem demands secure and idempotent updates, which NETCONF or RESTCONF over SSH delivers.
- ✓
SSH
Why this is correct
Ansible's ios_config and related modules connect over SSH, which IOS-XE supports natively and encrypts credentials and configuration traffic. SSH also underpins the idempotent module workflow, so repeated playbook runs converge devices to the declared state without insecure Telnet.
- ✗
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP is a monitoring and polling protocol; it cannot push idempotent configuration changes or report changed state to Ansible. It is tempting because it is widely enabled on Cisco devices, but the stem requires secure, idempotent configuration updates, which NETCONF or RESTCONF over SSH provides.
- ✗
HTTP
Why it's wrong here
Plain HTTP is unencrypted and, on IOS-XE, does not provide the structured, idempotent configuration datastore that Ansible modules require. It is tempting because RESTCONF runs over HTTP, but the stem requires secure and idempotent updates, so HTTPS with NETCONF or RESTCONF is needed.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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