200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
An engineer needs to modify the running configuration of a Cisco IOS-XE device using a protocol that is stateless and uses HTTP methods. Which protocol should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between NETCONF and RESTCONF, where candidates mistakenly choose NETCONF because it is more familiar for network automation, but the question specifically requires a stateless protocol using HTTP methods, which only RESTCONF satisfies.
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
✓
RESTCONF
RESTCONF is the correct choice because it is a stateless protocol that uses standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE) to manipulate YANG-defined data stores on a Cisco IOS-XE device. Unlike NETCONF, which is stateful and session-oriented, RESTCONF operates over HTTP without maintaining session state, making it ideal for lightweight, RESTful automation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
NETCONF
Why it's wrong here
NETCONF is stateful and uses SSH, not HTTP methods.
- ✗
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP is UDP-based and not typically used for configuration changes in a stateless manner.
- ✓
RESTCONF
Why this is correct
RESTCONF is stateless, uses HTTP, and aligns with RESTful principles.
- ✗
CLI
Why it's wrong here
CLI is interactive and not a protocol; it's typically stateful via SSH.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This 200-901 question is part of Courseiva's 989-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-901 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-901 exam.