Quick Answer
The correct answer is that the 'connecting' state indicates the client is in the process of 802.1X authentication. This state means the switch, acting as the authenticator, has detected a new client on the port and is actively sending EAP-Request/Identity frames while waiting for a response—the client has not yet been authenticated or failed. On the Cisco DevNet Associate 200-901 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the 802.1X authentication flow and the role of the authenticator in Cisco ISE. A common trap is confusing 'connecting' with 'authenticated' or 'failed'; remember that 'connecting' is the transitional state where the switch is waiting for the client to reply. Memory tip: think of 'connecting' as the handshake phase—the switch is reaching out, but the client hasn't shaken back yet.
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of network fundamentals. 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.
An organization uses Cisco ISE for network access control. A user reports inability to access the network. The switch port shows the authenticator state as 'connecting'. What does this indicate?
The client is in the process of 802.1X authentication
'Connecting' means authentication is ongoing.
The client has successfully authenticated
Why wrong: Success state is 'authenticated'.
The port is in a held state due to multiple failures
Why wrong: Held state is 'auth-fail-vlan' or similar.
Authentication has failed
Why wrong: Failure state is 'failed'.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The client is in the process of 802.1X authentication
In Cisco ISE and 802.1X, the authenticator state 'connecting' indicates that the switch (authenticator) has detected a new client on the port and has initiated the 802.1X authentication process. This state means the port is actively sending EAP-Request/Identity frames and waiting for the client to respond, so the client is in the process of authentication, not yet authenticated or failed.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The client is in the process of 802.1X authentication
Why this is correct
'Connecting' means authentication is ongoing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The client has successfully authenticated
Why it's wrong here
Success state is 'authenticated'.
The port is in a held state due to multiple failures
Why it's wrong here
Held state is 'auth-fail-vlan' or similar.
Authentication has failed
Why it's wrong here
Failure state is 'failed'.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between the 'connecting' state (meaning the process is ongoing) and the 'authenticated' or 'failed' states, so candidates mistakenly think 'connecting' implies a problem or failure rather than normal progress.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
Held state is 'auth-fail-vlan' or similar.
Detailed technical explanation
The 802.1X port state machine defined in IEEE 802.1X-2010 includes states such as 'connecting', 'authenticating', 'authenticated', and 'held'. The 'connecting' state is entered when the port is initialized or when a new supplicant is detected via EAPOL-Start or a link-up event. In this state, the authenticator sends EAP-Request/Identity frames and starts a timer (typically 30 seconds by default on Cisco switches) before transitioning to 'authenticating' or 'held' depending on the client response.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Network Fundamentals — This question tests Network Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The client is in the process of 802.1X authentication — In Cisco ISE and 802.1X, the authenticator state 'connecting' indicates that the switch (authenticator) has detected a new client on the port and has initiated the 802.1X authentication process. This state means the port is actively sending EAP-Request/Identity frames and waiting for the client to respond, so the client is in the process of authentication, not yet authenticated or failed.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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