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 network administrator automates the provisioning of Meraki MX security appliances using the Meraki Dashboard API. The Python script reads a CSV file with site details and creates VLANs, firewall rules, and VPN settings. Recently, the script started throwing an HTTP 429 error. The script is single-threaded and makes fewer than 10 requests per second. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the 429 error?
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 organization has a lower rate limit than the API key's default.
The HTTP 429 (Too Many Requests) error indicates the client has exceeded the rate limit imposed by the Meraki Dashboard API. Even though the script makes fewer than 10 requests per second, the organization-level rate limit can be lower than the default API key limit. Option D is correct because the organization's rate limit overrides the default, and the script's request rate may still exceed that lower threshold.
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The API key has been revoked.
Why it's wrong here
Revoked key gives 401, not 429.
✗
The rate limit for the API key is 5 requests per second.
Why it's wrong here
Default per-API-key limit is 10 req/s; if under that, 429 unlikely.
✗
The Meraki cloud is under maintenance.
Why it's wrong here
Maintenance returns 503 Service Unavailable, not 429.
✓
The organization has a lower rate limit than the API key's default.
Why this is correct
Rate limits are applied at multiple levels; organization-level limit may be lower.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the default API key rate limit is the only constraint, overlooking that the organization-level rate limit can be lower and is the actual cause of the 429 error.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Meraki Dashboard API enforces rate limits at both the API key and organization levels, with the organization limit often being more restrictive (e.g., 5 requests per second). The 429 response includes a Retry-After header, and the script should implement exponential backoff to handle such limits gracefully. In real-world scenarios, multiple scripts or users sharing the same API key can collectively exceed the organization limit even if each individual script stays under the key's default rate.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
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 organization has a lower rate limit than the API key's default. — The HTTP 429 (Too Many Requests) error indicates the client has exceeded the rate limit imposed by the Meraki Dashboard API. Even though the script makes fewer than 10 requests per second, the organization-level rate limit can be lower than the default API key limit. Option D is correct because the organization's rate limit overrides the default, and the script's request rate may still exceed that lower threshold.
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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