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200-901 Practice Question: When designing a REST API client for a Cisco DNA…
When designing a REST API client for a Cisco DNA Center deployment, which authentication method should be used to obtain a token for subsequent API calls?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the specific authentication flow for DNA Center, and the trap here is that candidates confuse the token-based approach with OAuth 2.0 or API keys, which are used by other Cisco platforms like Meraki or Webex.
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
✓
HTTP Basic authentication to obtain a token.
Cisco DNA Center uses HTTP Basic authentication to obtain a token. The client sends a POST request to the /dna/system/api/v1/auth/token endpoint with a Base64-encoded string of the username and password in the Authorization header. The server returns a token that must be included in subsequent API calls via the X-Auth-Token header.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
OAuth 2.0 client credentials grant.
Why it's wrong here
DNA Center does not use OAuth 2.0.
- ✗
API key in the request header.
Why it's wrong here
DNA Center does not use API keys.
- ✓
HTTP Basic authentication to obtain a token.
Why this is correct
Correct method: POST with basic auth to get token.
- ✗
Client certificate in the request.
Why it's wrong here
Certificates are not the standard authentication.
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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.