The answer is that the EEM applet triggers before the routing table is fully updated, so the show ip route output is outdated. The root cause lies in the timing of the syslog event: the %ROUTING-5-ROUTECHANGE message is generated as soon as the routing process detects a change, but the actual routing table update occurs after the syslog is sent. Because the EEM applet runs immediately upon matching the syslog pattern, it executes the show ip route command before the new route is installed, capturing the old table instead. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of event-driven automation and the sequence of routing table convergence—a common trap is assuming the syslog event guarantees the table is current. A key memory tip is “syslog before sync”: the log fires on detection, not completion, so always add an action wait command to allow convergence before reading the table.
300-410 Embedded Event Manager (EEM) Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of embedded event manager (eem). Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
A network engineer configures EEM to monitor routing table changes on R1. R1 has: event manager applet ROUTE-MONITOR event syslog pattern "%ROUTING-5-ROUTECHANGE" action 1.0 cli command "enable" action 2.0 cli command "show ip route" action 3.0 syslog msg "Routing table changed". After a route update, the engineer notices that the applet runs but the show ip route output does not reflect the change. Router R2 shows: the route is present in the routing table. What is the root cause?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The syslog message is generated before the routing table is updated, so the show command shows the old table.
The syslog message %ROUTING-5-ROUTECHANGE is generated before the routing table is fully updated. The EEM applet runs immediately, capturing the routing table before the change is applied. The correct fix is to add a delay using 'action wait' to allow the routing table to converge.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 syslog message is generated before the routing table is updated, so the show command shows the old table.
Why this is correct
The applet executes before the routing table change is committed; a delay is needed.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
The syslog pattern is incorrect; it should be %ROUTING-5-ROUTECHANGED.
Why it's wrong here
The pattern matches the correct message.
✗
The routing protocol is not fully converged due to a hold-down timer.
Why it's wrong here
The route is present on R2, so convergence is fine; the issue is the EEM timing.
✗
The 'show ip route' command is not executed in privileged mode.
Why it's wrong here
The enable command ensures privileged mode.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The enable command ensures privileged mode.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 300-410 question in full detail.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 300-410 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Embedded Event Manager (EEM) — This question tests Embedded Event Manager (EEM) — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The syslog message is generated before the routing table is updated, so the show command shows the old table. — The syslog message %ROUTING-5-ROUTECHANGE is generated before the routing table is fully updated. The EEM applet runs immediately, capturing the routing table before the change is applied. The correct fix is to add a delay using 'action wait' to allow the routing table to converge.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 300-410 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A network engineer configures EEM to monitor interface state changes on R1. R1 has: event manager applet INT-MONITOR event syslog pattern "%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN" action 1.0 cli command "enable" action 2.0 cli command "show ip route" action 3.0 syslog msg "Interface state change detected". After a link flap on interface GigabitEthernet0/1, the engineer notices that the EEM applet runs multiple times, but the show ip route output is incomplete. Router R2 shows: routing table updates are delayed. What is the root cause?
hard
✓ A.The EEM applet executes before the routing protocol has converged, showing incomplete routing information.
B.The syslog pattern matches too many events, causing the applet to run excessively.
C.The 'show ip route' command requires privileged mode, but the applet is already in privileged mode.
D.The interface flap is causing routing protocol instability, not the EEM applet.
Why A: The EEM applet runs immediately upon the syslog message, but the routing protocol may not have converged yet. The show ip route command may show stale or incomplete routes because the routing table update occurs asynchronously. The correct fix is to add a delay using 'action wait' before executing the show command.
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Question Discussion
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