easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
300-410 Practice Question: Runs the following command on Router R1: R1# show…
A network engineer runs the following command on Router R1:
R1# show crypto ipsec transform-set
Transform set ESP-AES256-SHA: { esp-256-aes esp-sha256-hmac } will negotiate = { Tunnel, },
Transform set ESP-AES128-SHA: { esp-aes esp-sha256-hmac } will negotiate = { Tunnel, },
Based on this output, which statement is correct?
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
✓
Both transform sets use tunnel mode; ESP-AES256-SHA uses stronger encryption.
The output shows two transform sets configured. The first uses AES-256 with SHA256 HMAC, the second uses AES-128 with SHA256 HMAC. Both use tunnel mode.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Both transform sets use tunnel mode; ESP-AES256-SHA uses stronger encryption.
Why this is correct
ESP-AES256-SHA uses 256-bit AES, which is stronger than 128-bit.
- ✗
The transform sets use transport mode.
Why it's wrong here
The output shows 'Tunnel' mode.
- ✗
The transform sets use MD5 for hashing.
Why it's wrong here
They use SHA256, not MD5.
- ✗
The transform sets are not compatible with IKEv2.
Why it's wrong here
They are compatible with both IKEv1 and IKEv2.
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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Variation 1. A network engineer runs the following command to troubleshoot an IPsec Site-to-Site VPN issue: R1# show crypto ipsec transform-set Transform set combined-des-sha: { esp-des esp-sha-hmac } will negotiate = { Tunnel, }, Transform set myset: { esp-3des esp-sha-hmac } will negotiate = { Tunnel, }, Transform set strong: { esp-aes 256 esp-sha-hmac } will negotiate = { Tunnel, }, What does this output indicate?
easy- A.All transform sets are using strong encryption and are acceptable for production.
- ✓ B.The transform set 'combined-des-sha' uses DES, which is not recommended due to security vulnerabilities.
- C.The transform sets are not configured correctly because they do not specify the mode.
- D.The transform set 'strong' is not supported because it uses AES 256.
Why B: The output shows three transform sets, including 'combined-des-sha', which uses DES (Data Encryption Standard) with a 56-bit key. DES is considered cryptographically weak and has been deprecated due to known vulnerabilities, such as susceptibility to brute-force attacks. Cisco recommends using AES or 3DES as a minimum for production IPsec VPNs, making option B correct.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.