Quick Answer
The answer is drop. By default, the Control Plane Policing (CoPP) policer implements a single-rate two-color marker, which means any traffic exceeding the committed information rate (CIR) is immediately discarded without remarking or buffering. This default exceed action is hard-coded into the policer’s behavior because CoPP is designed to protect the control plane from overload—dropping excess packets is the simplest and most effective way to prevent CPU starvation. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this concept often appears in questions about CoPP configuration or troubleshooting, where a common trap is assuming the default action is “transmit” or “set-dscp-transmit.” Remember that unlike QoS policies on data interfaces, CoPP has no default “conform-action transmit, exceed-action set” logic; it is purely a policing mechanism. A quick memory tip: CoPP’s default exceed action is a hard drop—think “CIR exceeded? See ya later.”
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of control plane policing (copp). 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.
What is the default CoPP policer action for packets that exceed the committed information rate (CIR)?
Transmit with best-effort
Why wrong: Excess packets are dropped, not re-marked or transmitted.
Drop
The default policer action for exceeding traffic is to drop the packets.
Set DSCP to 0
Why wrong: Re-marking is not the default action; dropping is.
Queue for later transmission
Why wrong: Policing does not queue; it drops or transmits immediately.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Drop
By default, the CoPP policer uses a single-rate two-color marker where packets exceeding the CIR are dropped.
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.
Transmit with best-effort
Why it's wrong here
Excess packets are dropped, not re-marked or transmitted.
Drop
Why this is correct
The default policer action for exceeding traffic is to drop the packets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Set DSCP to 0
Why it's wrong here
Re-marking is not the default action; dropping is.
Queue for later transmission
Why it's wrong here
Policing does not queue; it drops or transmits immediately.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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 300-410 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 300-410 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Control Plane Policing (CoPP) — This question tests Control Plane Policing (CoPP) — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Drop — By default, the CoPP policer uses a single-rate two-color marker where packets exceeding the CIR are dropped.
Identify which 300-410 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
This 300-410 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 300-410 exam.
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