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.
Which TWO statements correctly describe differences between model-driven telemetry and traditional SNMP polling?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Model-driven telemetry reduces device CPU usage compared to frequent SNMP polling
Option B is correct because model-driven telemetry uses a push model that sends data only when there is a change or at a configured interval, which significantly reduces the device CPU overhead compared to frequent SNMP polling, where the device must process and respond to each individual GET request from the NMS. This efficiency gain is a primary advantage of telemetry over traditional polling.
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.
✗
SNMP supports push-based notifications using informs
Why it's wrong here
SNMP traps/informs are push but are not the primary or typical method; polling is pull.
✓
Model-driven telemetry reduces device CPU usage compared to frequent SNMP polling
Why this is correct
Telemetry is more efficient as devices send data at intervals rather than being polled.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Model-driven telemetry can only be used with NETCONF
Why it's wrong here
Telemetry can use gRPC, HTTP, or other transports; not limited to NETCONF.
✓
Model-driven telemetry uses a push model, while SNMP polling is a pull model
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that SNMP is purely pull-based and cannot push, but the trap here is that SNMP informs and traps are push mechanisms, so candidates must focus on the 'frequent polling' CPU reduction as the key differentiator, not the push/pull model alone.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Model-driven telemetry typically uses a subscription-based architecture where the device (publisher) streams structured data (e.g., YANG-encoded in JSON or GPB) to a collector, often over gRPC or TCP, ensuring reliable delivery and reducing polling overhead. In contrast, SNMP polling requires the NMS to repeatedly send GET requests, which consumes device CPU cycles for each response, especially problematic at scale (e.g., polling thousands of OIDs every 30 seconds). Real-world deployments often use telemetry for high-frequency data like interface counters or CPU utilization, while SNMP remains for legacy or simple threshold-based monitoring.
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 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
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: Model-driven telemetry reduces device CPU usage compared to frequent SNMP polling — Option B is correct because model-driven telemetry uses a push model that sends data only when there is a change or at a configured interval, which significantly reduces the device CPU overhead compared to frequent SNMP polling, where the device must process and respond to each individual GET request from the NMS. This efficiency gain is a primary advantage of telemetry over traditional polling.
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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