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300-410 Practice Question: Which THREE symptoms indicate that a Cisco IOS…
Which THREE symptoms indicate that a Cisco IOS router is experiencing issues with device access control due to misconfigured AAA local authentication? (Choose THREE.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between local authentication lockout (controlled by 'aaa local authentication attempts max-fail') and login blocking (controlled by 'login block-for'), causing candidates to incorrectly associate lockout behavior with the 'login block-for' feature rather than AAA local authentication parameters.
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
✓
Users with correct credentials are repeatedly denied access, and the 'show aaa local user lockout' command shows no locked accounts.
When AAA local authentication is misconfigured, users with valid credentials can be repeatedly denied access without any lockout entries. The 'show aaa local user lockout' command would show locked accounts only if the 'aaa local authentication attempts max-fail' feature is enabled, but the absence of lockouts indicates the issue is not due to failed attempts but rather a misconfiguration in the local username/password database or AAA method list.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Users with correct credentials are repeatedly denied access, and the 'show aaa local user lockout' command shows no locked accounts.
Why this is correct
This suggests the authentication method list may not reference 'local' or the local database is not properly configured, causing failures without lockouts.
- ✓
The 'debug aaa authentication' output shows 'FAIL' for local authentication attempts even though the username and password are correctly configured.
Why this is correct
This directly indicates that local authentication is failing, likely due to a misconfiguration in the method list or the local database.
- ✓
Users are locked out after three failed attempts despite 'login block-for' not being configured.
Why this is correct
This indicates that local authentication lockout is enabled (via 'aaa local authentication attempts max-fail'), which is part of AAA local configuration; if misconfigured, it can cause unexpected lockouts.
- ✗
The 'show aaa servers' output shows the RADIUS server status as 'DEAD'.
Why it's wrong here
This indicates a RADIUS server issue, not a local authentication problem.
- ✗
The 'show line' command shows that the line is in 'ready' state but login prompts are not displayed.
Why it's wrong here
This suggests a line configuration issue (e.g., transport input or exec), not specifically a local AAA authentication problem.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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