200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
An engineer is tasked with automating the backup of running configurations from 50 routers. Which approach is most scalable?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that SNMP can be used for configuration backup, but SNMP is designed for read-only monitoring of OIDs, not for retrieving or storing entire configuration files, which requires a file transfer or CLI-based method.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an Ansible playbook with ios_config backup
An Ansible playbook with the ios_config module's backup option is the most scalable approach because it uses a push-based automation model that can manage all 50 routers from a single control node, leveraging SSH for secure transport and idempotent configuration management without requiring any agent on the routers.
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 manually to each router and copy config
Why it's wrong here
Not scalable.
- ✗
Schedule a cron job on each router to SCP config
Why it's wrong here
Hard to manage across many devices.
- ✗
Use SNMP to capture config
Why it's wrong here
SNMP not designed for config backup.
- ✓
Use an Ansible playbook with ios_config backup
Why this is correct
Automates and scales.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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