200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure and automation. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
<rpc-reply xmlns="urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:netconf:base:1.0">
<rpc-error>
<error-type>protocol</error-type>
<error-tag>operation-failed</error-tag>
<error-severity>error</error-severity>
<error-message>
Edit operation failed: the candidate configuration does not pass validation.
</error-message>
<error-info>
<bad-element>mtu</bad-element>
<bad-namespace>urn:cisco:params:xml:ns:yang:Cisco-IOS-XE-native</bad-namespace>
</error-info>
</rpc-error>
</rpc-reply>
A NETCONF RPC reply indicates a validation failure. Based on the exhibit, what is the most probable reason for the failure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The MTU value provided is outside the allowed range.
The NETCONF RPC reply indicates a validation failure, which typically occurs when the data being configured does not conform to the YANG model's constraints. In this context, the MTU value provided is outside the allowed range defined in the YANG model for the interface, triggering a validation error before any configuration is applied.
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 MTU value provided is outside the allowed range.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The XML syntax in the edit operation was malformed.
Why it's wrong here
Error says validation failed, not syntax.
✗
The XML namespace 'Cisco-IOS-XE-native' is not supported.
Why it's wrong here
Namespace is recognized as it's referenced.
✗
The NETCONF session timed out before the operation completed.
Why it's wrong here
Timeout would be different error.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between validation errors (data model constraints) and other error types like syntax errors or namespace issues, leading candidates to confuse a validation failure with a malformed XML or unsupported namespace.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NETCONF validation failures are enforced by the YANG data model's constraints, such as range, pattern, or mandatory statements. For example, the 'ietf-interfaces' YANG model defines the MTU as a uint16 type with a range of 68 to 65535; providing a value outside this range triggers a <rpc-error> with error-tag 'invalid-value' and error-app-tag 'data-not-unique' or 'bad-element'. In real-world scenarios, this prevents misconfigurations that could cause packet fragmentation or interface issues.
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: The MTU value provided is outside the allowed range. — The NETCONF RPC reply indicates a validation failure, which typically occurs when the data being configured does not conform to the YANG model's constraints. In this context, the MTU value provided is outside the allowed range defined in the YANG model for the interface, triggering a validation error before any configuration is applied.
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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