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300-410 Practice Question: Which TWO commands would a network engineer use…
Which TWO commands would a network engineer use to verify the status of IPsec security associations on a Cisco IOS router? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between IKE phase 1 (ISAKMP) and IPsec phase 2 (IPsec) SAs, and candidates may incorrectly think 'show crypto isakmp sa' alone is sufficient to verify IPsec SAs, or they may confuse 'show crypto engine connections active' with IPsec SA status.
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
✓
show crypto ipsec sa
The 'show crypto ipsec sa' command displays the IPsec security associations (SAs) that have been negotiated, including their SPI numbers, encryption and authentication algorithms, and packet counters. This is the primary command to verify that IPsec SAs are active and that traffic is being encrypted and decrypted correctly. The 'show crypto isakmp sa' command shows the IKE (ISAKMP) phase 1 SAs, which are necessary for establishing the IPsec SAs, making it a complementary verification step.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
show crypto ipsec sa
Why this is correct
This command shows IPsec security associations, including SPI, encapsulation mode, and packet statistics.
- ✓
show crypto isakmp sa
Why this is correct
This command shows IKE phase 1 security associations, indicating whether the tunnel is established.
- ✗
show crypto map
Why it's wrong here
This command displays crypto map configuration, not the current SA status.
- ✗
show ip route
Why it's wrong here
This command shows the routing table, not IPsec SA details.
- ✗
show crypto engine connections active
Why it's wrong here
This command shows crypto engine processing, not SA status.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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