200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure and automation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 junior developer is writing a Python script to gather interface statistics from a Cisco IOS-XE device using NETCONF. They use the 'ncclient' library and successfully connect. They want to retrieve the operational status of all interfaces. Which YANG model and XPATH expression should they use to get the operational data?
Option A is correct because the 'ietf-interfaces' YANG model defines the '/interfaces-state' container specifically for operational state data (e.g., status, counters), as per RFC 7223. The XPATH '/interfaces-state/interface' retrieves the list of all interfaces with their operational status, which is exactly what the developer needs. The 'ncclient' library can filter using this XPATH to get read-only operational data from a NETCONF-enabled Cisco IOS-XE device.
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.
/interfaces/interface refers to configuration, not operational status.
✗
Model: ietf-interfaces, XPATH: /interfaces-state
Why it's wrong here
Missing '/interface' – returns container not list entries.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between configuration and operational data in YANG models, and the trap here is that candidates confuse '/interfaces/interface' (configuration) with '/interfaces-state/interface' (operational state), or they pick a too-broad XPATH like '/interfaces-state' instead of the specific list node.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'ietf-interfaces' model (RFC 7223) separates configuration ('/interfaces') from operational state ('/interfaces-state') to enforce read-only access for state data via NETCONF. In practice, a NETCONF <get> operation with the XPATH '/interfaces-state/interface' returns a list of interface entries, each containing fields like 'oper-status' (up/down), 'admin-status', and 'if-index', which are essential for monitoring scripts. A common subtlety is that some devices may not populate all state fields until the interface is administratively enabled, so a developer should handle missing data gracefully.
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.
Infrastructure and Automation — This question tests Infrastructure and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Model: ietf-interfaces, XPATH: /interfaces-state/interface — Option A is correct because the 'ietf-interfaces' YANG model defines the '/interfaces-state' container specifically for operational state data (e.g., status, counters), as per RFC 7223. The XPATH '/interfaces-state/interface' retrieves the list of all interfaces with their operational status, which is exactly what the developer needs. The 'ncclient' library can filter using this XPATH to get read-only operational data from a NETCONF-enabled Cisco IOS-XE device.
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.
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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