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, operating over SSH with XML-encoded RPCs and persistent sessions, so it fails the stateless HTTP-method requirement. It is tempting because NETCONF is purpose-built for programmatic configuration changes, and would be correct where transactional, session-based configuration edits are needed.
- ✗
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP uses UDP with its own object-identifier model and is not an HTTP-method protocol; it also targets MIB objects rather than the running configuration. It is tempting for device monitoring and polling, and would be correct for collecting interface statistics or traps, not for editing configuration.
- ✓
RESTCONF
Why this is correct
RESTCONF is stateless and uses HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PATCH and DELETE to manipulate the running configuration. NETCONF is stateful and uses SSH transport, while SNMP and NETCONF do not match the HTTP-method requirement.
- ✗
CLI
Why it's wrong here
CLI is a text-based interactive shell accessed over SSH or console, not a stateless HTTP-method protocol, and lacks structured request/response semantics. It is tempting because engineers routinely change running configuration through CLI commands, and it would be correct for manual or scripted interactive sessions.
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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.