Question 914 of 2,152

Device Management →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that the router is configured to boot from a TFTP server using the boot host command, and the TFTP server is unreachable or does not allow writes. When a router has a boot host command in its configuration, the copy running-config startup-config operation attempts to write the configuration to the remote TFTP file specified by that command rather than to local NVRAM. If the TFTP server is unreachable or denies the write request, the command appears to succeed—returning the prompt without an error message—but the startup-config remains empty because the transfer never completed. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how the boot system commands alter the behavior of configuration save operations; a common trap is assuming a silent return means success. Remember the memory tip: “Silent save, remote grave”—if the save is silent and the config is gone, check if boot host points to a TFTP ghost.

300-410 Device Management Practice Question

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of device management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.

An engineer is troubleshooting a router that fails to write its running configuration to startup configuration using 'copy running-config startup-config'. The command returns 'Destination filename [startup-config]?' and then the prompt returns without error. 'show startup-config' shows an empty configuration. What is the most likely cause?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

A
The router is configured to boot from a TFTP server using the 'boot host' command, and the TFTP server is unreachable or does not allow writes.
When 'boot host' points to a remote file, 'copy running-config startup-config' tries to write to that remote server; if it fails, the local startup-config remains empty.
B
The NVRAM is full and the router cannot save the configuration.
Why wrong: A full NVRAM would generate an explicit error message like 'NVRAM is full', not a silent failure.
C
The 'file prompt quiet' command is configured, suppressing prompts.
Why wrong: 'file prompt quiet' suppresses confirmation prompts but would still show errors; it would not cause a silent empty startup-config.
D
The router is running in ROMMON mode.
Why wrong: In ROMMON mode, the router cannot boot IOS fully and 'copy running-config startup-config' would not be available.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

The router is configured to boot from a TFTP server using the 'boot host' command, and the TFTP server is unreachable or does not allow writes.

The router may have insufficient space in NVRAM or the startup configuration file may be corrupted. However, a common issue is that the router is booting from a network server (TFTP) and the 'boot host' command points to a remote file, so 'copy running-config startup-config' attempts to write to the remote server but fails silently.

Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✓
The router is configured to boot from a TFTP server using the 'boot host' command, and the TFTP server is unreachable or does not allow writes.
Why this is correct
When 'boot host' points to a remote file, 'copy running-config startup-config' tries to write to that remote server; if it fails, the local startup-config remains empty.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The NVRAM is full and the router cannot save the configuration.
Why it's wrong here
A full NVRAM would generate an explicit error message like 'NVRAM is full', not a silent failure.
✗
The 'file prompt quiet' command is configured, suppressing prompts.
Why it's wrong here
'file prompt quiet' suppresses confirmation prompts but would still show errors; it would not cause a silent empty startup-config.
✗
The router is running in ROMMON mode.
Why it's wrong here
In ROMMON mode, the router cannot boot IOS fully and 'copy running-config startup-config' would not be available.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic

NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
'file prompt quiet' suppresses confirmation prompts but would still show errors; it would not cause a silent empty startup-config.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.

TExam Day Tips

Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.

Key takeaway

NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.

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.

Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 300-410 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 300-410 question test?

Device Management — This question tests Device Management — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The router is configured to boot from a TFTP server using the 'boot host' command, and the TFTP server is unreachable or does not allow writes. — The router may have insufficient space in NVRAM or the startup configuration file may be corrupted. However, a common issue is that the router is booting from a network server (TFTP) and the 'boot host' command points to a remote file, so 'copy running-config startup-config' attempts to write to the remote server but fails silently.

What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.

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