200-901 Application Deployment and Security Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of application deployment and security. 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 network automation script using NX-API on a Nexus switch fails intermittently with HTTP 500 errors. Which two troubleshooting steps are most effective in diagnosing the issue? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable NX-API debugging on the switch to capture detailed logs.
Option C is correct because enabling NX-API debugging on the switch (using the 'debug nxapi' command) captures detailed logs of API requests and responses, including HTTP 500 error details. This allows you to pinpoint the root cause, such as malformed payloads, internal server errors, or resource exhaustion. Without debugging, the generic 500 error provides no insight into the specific failure.
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.
✗
Check the length of the JSON payload sent to the API.
Why it's wrong here
Payload size limits cause 413 errors, not 500.
✗
Ensure the switch is running NX-OS version 9.3(1) or later.
Why it's wrong here
Version is less likely to cause intermittent 500 errors.
✓
Enable NX-API debugging on the switch to capture detailed logs.
Why this is correct
Debug logs help identify the exact failure point.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Verify that the NX-API sandbox feature is enabled and running.
Why this is correct
If NX-API is not fully enabled, it can lead to intermittent errors.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use HTTP instead of HTTPS for the API requests.
Why it's wrong here
Using HTTP does not fix the issue and introduces security risks.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that HTTP 500 errors are always client-side issues (like payload size) or can be fixed by changing protocols, when in fact they require server-side debugging to diagnose internal failures.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NX-API on Nexus switches uses a RESTful interface over HTTPS, processing JSON or XML payloads. The 'debug nxapi' command enables verbose logging that captures request parsing, internal processing, and response generation, including stack traces for 500 errors. In real-world scenarios, intermittent 500 errors often stem from race conditions or memory pressure when handling concurrent API calls, which debugging logs can reveal.
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 practitioner preparing for the 200-901 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
Application Deployment and Security — This question tests Application Deployment and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable NX-API debugging on the switch to capture detailed logs. — Option C is correct because enabling NX-API debugging on the switch (using the 'debug nxapi' command) captures detailed logs of API requests and responses, including HTTP 500 error details. This allows you to pinpoint the root cause, such as malformed payloads, internal server errors, or resource exhaustion. Without debugging, the generic 500 error provides no insight into the specific failure.
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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