200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure and automation. 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.
Which TWO methods are commonly used to discover network devices in an automation environment? (Select exactly 2.)
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
Using LLDP or CDP to retrieve directly connected neighbor information
Option D is correct because LLDP (IEEE 802.1AB) and CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) are Layer 2 protocols that allow network devices to advertise their identity, capabilities, and directly connected neighbors. In automation environments, these protocols enable dynamic discovery of the network topology without manual intervention, making them essential for automated inventory and mapping.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between discovery protocols (LLDP/CDP) and management protocols (SNMP), so candidates may mistakenly think SNMP is used for discovery when it is actually used for reading MIBs after discovery is complete.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
LLDP and CDP operate by sending periodic multicast frames (e.g., LLDP uses destination MAC 01:80:C2:00:00:0E) to advertise chassis ID, port ID, system name, and management IP. In automation, tools like Ansible can parse LLDP/CDP neighbor tables via SNMP or CLI to build a dynamic inventory, enabling zero-touch provisioning and topology-aware configuration changes. A real-world scenario is using LLDP to automatically discover all switches connected to a new router, then pushing VLAN configurations to them via a centralized controller.
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 network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-901 question test?
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: Using LLDP or CDP to retrieve directly connected neighbor information — Option D is correct because LLDP (IEEE 802.1AB) and CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) are Layer 2 protocols that allow network devices to advertise their identity, capabilities, and directly connected neighbors. In automation environments, these protocols enable dynamic discovery of the network topology without manual intervention, making them essential for automated inventory and mapping.
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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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.
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