200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure and automation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
When implementing network automation with Cisco devices, which THREE practices help ensure idempotency? (Select THREE)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Performing a full configuration replace using RESTCONF PUT instead of PATCH.
Option C is correct because a full configuration replace using RESTCONF PUT ensures idempotency by setting the entire configuration to a known state, regardless of the current state. Unlike PATCH, which applies incremental changes that may behave differently depending on the existing configuration, PUT overwrites the entire resource, guaranteeing the same result every time it is executed.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Writing scripts that only push incremental configurations.
Why it's wrong here
Incremental pushes may not be idempotent without state awareness.
✗
Relying on manual rollback procedures after automation failures.
Why it's wrong here
Manual rollback does not ensure idempotent automation.
✓
Performing a full configuration replace using RESTCONF PUT instead of PATCH.
Why this is correct
PUT replaces the whole resource, making it idempotent; PATCH is not necessarily idempotent.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Using Ansible modules that check the current state before making changes.
Why this is correct
State-checking modules ensure changes are only applied when needed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Using declarative automation tools like Puppet that enforce desired state.
Why this is correct
Declarative tools model the desired state and achieve it regardless of current state.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that incremental changes (like PATCH or partial configs) are idempotent, but the trap here is that only full-state replacement or state-checking tools guarantee the same result on every execution, regardless of the starting configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Idempotency in network automation is formally defined in RFC 7231 for HTTP methods: PUT is idempotent because multiple identical requests result in the same server state, whereas PATCH is not guaranteed to be idempotent unless the patch document is designed to be. In practice, using NETCONF with the <edit-config> operation and the 'replace' option also achieves idempotency by replacing the entire configuration subtree, similar to RESTCONF PUT. A real-world scenario is when a network device's configuration drifts due to manual changes; a full replace ensures the automation returns the device to the exact intended state, avoiding cumulative errors from incremental pushes.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Infrastructure and Automation — This question tests Infrastructure and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Performing a full configuration replace using RESTCONF PUT instead of PATCH. — Option C is correct because a full configuration replace using RESTCONF PUT ensures idempotency by setting the entire configuration to a known state, regardless of the current state. Unlike PATCH, which applies incremental changes that may behave differently depending on the existing configuration, PUT overwrites the entire resource, guaranteeing the same result every time it is executed.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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