200-901 Cisco Platforms and Development Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of cisco platforms and development. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A developer writes a Python script using ncclient to retrieve the running configuration from a Cisco IOS XE device. The script fails with an XML parsing error. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The script is not filtering the output correctly and receives multiple root elements
The most likely cause is that the script does not filter the NETCONF reply to a specific subtree, so the device returns multiple top-level XML elements (e.g., both <native> and <config>). An XML parser expects a single root element, and receiving multiple roots triggers a parsing error. ncclient's `get_config` with no filter can return the entire configuration as separate elements, violating XML well-formedness.
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.
✓
The script is not filtering the output correctly and receives multiple root elements
Why this is correct
If multiple root elements are returned (e.g., unfiltered), the XML parser will throw an error.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The device does not support NETCONF
Why it's wrong here
IOS XE devices typically support NETCONF.
✗
The ncclient library version is too old
Why it's wrong here
Version mismatches usually cause capability issues, not XML parsing errors.
✗
The username and password are incorrect
Why it's wrong here
Authentication errors would result in a different error (e.g., authentication failure).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the subtle requirement that NETCONF replies must be well-formed XML with a single root element, and candidates mistakenly think the error is due to connectivity or authentication rather than the missing filter.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NETCONF uses XML over SSH, and RFC 6241 requires a well-formed XML document with a single root element. When using ncclient's `get_config` without a filter (e.g., `source='running'`), the device may return multiple top-level elements (like `<native>` and `<config>`) because the running config is not wrapped in a single container. A proper fix is to use an XPath filter (e.g., `filter=('xpath', '/native')`) to ensure a single root element in the reply.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
Cisco Platforms and Development — This question tests Cisco Platforms and Development — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The script is not filtering the output correctly and receives multiple root elements — The most likely cause is that the script does not filter the NETCONF reply to a specific subtree, so the device returns multiple top-level XML elements (e.g., both <native> and <config>). An XML parser expects a single root element, and receiving multiple roots triggers a parsing error. ncclient's `get_config` with no filter can return the entire configuration as separate elements, violating XML well-formedness.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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