This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of network fundamentals. 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.
A DevOps engineer is automating network device configuration using Ansible. The playbook must retrieve the MAC address table from a Cisco switch. Which protocol should the engineer use to fetch this data?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SNMP
The MAC address table is accessible via SNMP (MIB). REST API is not native on older switches; NETCONF can be used but is more complex for this task. CLI scraping is not recommended. Ansible can use SNMP to gather information.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
SSH with CLI scraping
Why it's wrong here
While possible, it is brittle and not best practice for automation.
✗
HTTPS with Web UI
Why it's wrong here
Web UI is for human interaction, not automation.
✗
REST API
Why it's wrong here
Not all switches expose MAC table via REST; SNMP is universal.
✗
NETCONF
Why it's wrong here
NETCONF can retrieve operational data but is not the simplest for this common task.
✓
SNMP
Why this is correct
SNMP is a standard protocol for retrieving MIB data like MAC tables.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-901 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Network Fundamentals — This question tests Network Fundamentals — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SNMP — The MAC address table is accessible via SNMP (MIB). REST API is not native on older switches; NETCONF can be used but is more complex for this task. CLI scraping is not recommended. Ansible can use SNMP to gather information.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 200-901 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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