This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of cisco platforms and development. 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.
Which three configuration management tools can be used with Cisco devices for automation? (Choose three.)
Nagios
Why wrong: Nagios is a monitoring tool, not configuration management.
SaltStack
Why wrong: SaltStack is also a config management tool, but less emphasized in DevNet.
Puppet
Puppet supports Cisco devices via agents.
Chef
Chef can manage Cisco devices with custom resources.
Ansible
Ansible is a popular agentless automation tool for Cisco devices.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Puppet
Puppet is a configuration management tool that uses a declarative language to define system state. It can manage Cisco devices via the cisco_ios module, which uses SSH or NX-API to apply configurations, making it suitable for network automation.
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.
Nagios
Why it's wrong here
Nagios is a monitoring tool, not configuration management.
SaltStack
Why it's wrong here
SaltStack is also a config management tool, but less emphasized in DevNet.
Puppet
Why this is correct
Puppet supports Cisco devices via agents.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Chef
Why this is correct
Chef can manage Cisco devices with custom resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Ansible
Why this is correct
Ansible is a popular agentless automation tool for Cisco devices.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between monitoring tools (like Nagios) and configuration management tools, and candidates may confuse SaltStack as a primary Cisco automation tool due to its general-purpose nature, but it lacks the dedicated Cisco ecosystem support of Puppet, Chef, and Ansible.
Detailed technical explanation
Puppet uses a client-server architecture where the Puppet agent runs on the managed node, but for Cisco devices, the agent is often replaced by a proxy (e.g., a Linux host) that communicates via SSH or NETCONF. The cisco_ios module leverages Puppet's resource abstraction to model interfaces, VLANs, and ACLs as resources, enabling idempotent configuration changes. In real-world scenarios, Puppet can enforce compliance by reconciling device configs against a desired state defined in Puppet manifests.
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Cisco Platforms and Development — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Cisco Platforms and Development practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All 200-901 questions
505 questions across all exam domains
Cisco DevNet Associate 200-901 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
200-901 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Software Development and Design.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Understanding and Using APIs.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Cisco Platforms and Development.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Application Deployment and Security.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Infrastructure and Automation.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Network Fundamentals.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to 200-901 fundamentals.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to 200-901 scenario.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to 200-901 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Cisco Platforms and Development — This question tests Cisco Platforms and Development — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Puppet — Puppet is a configuration management tool that uses a declarative language to define system state. It can manage Cisco devices via the cisco_ios module, which uses SSH or NX-API to apply configurations, making it suitable for network automation.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.