mediumMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: Given this IP SLA configuration on router R4: ip…
Given this IP SLA configuration on router R4:
ip sla 40
icmp-echo 10.10.10.1 source-ip 172.16.1.1 frequency 15
ip sla schedule 40 life forever start-time now
Which statement is true?
⚠ Common exam trap
300-410 often tests the assumption that source-ip can be any address — candidates must remember that IP SLA source-ip must be a locally configured interface address, and that 'icmp-echo' means ICMP, not TCP.
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 source IP 172.16.1.1 must be configured on an interface of R4.
In Cisco IOS IP SLA ICMP-echo operations, the source-ip specified must be a valid IP address configured on a local interface of the router (or reachable via a loopback). The router uses this address as the source of the ICMP echo packets, so it must be locally assigned; otherwise the operation cannot source the probe and will fail. This makes option A correct.
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 source IP 172.16.1.1 must be configured on an interface of R4.
Why this is correct
The source-ip keyword requires that address to exist locally on R4; otherwise the operation cannot bind and fails. Configuring 172.16.1.1 on an interface of R4 is therefore a prerequisite for this IP SLA probe to function.
- ✗
The source IP 172.16.1.1 can be any IP address, even if not local.
Why it's wrong here
The source-ip must be a local address on R4; otherwise the ICMP echo is not generated. It is tempting because source-ip resembles a loose packet-matching field, but IP SLA requires the router to own that address.
- ✗
The operation will fail because frequency 15 is too high.
Why it's wrong here
Frequency 15 is valid; the range is 1 to 604800 seconds, so the operation runs every 15 seconds. It is tempting because 15 seconds feels aggressive for monitoring, yet nothing in the syntax rejects it.
- ✗
The operation will use TCP instead of ICMP.
Why it's wrong here
The configured operation is `icmp-echo`, which sends ICMP echo requests; TCP probing requires `tcp-connect` with a destination port. TCP tracking suits monitoring application availability, such as a web or database service on a specific port, where an ICMP reply would not confirm the service is listening.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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.