mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
300-410 Practice Question: Consider the following configuration on router…
Consider the following configuration on router R2:
crypto isakmp policy 10
encryption aes 256 authentication pre-share group 14 lifetime 3600 !
crypto isakmp key secretkey address 192.168.1.1
!
crypto ipsec transform-set TSET esp-aes 256 esp-sha-hmac
mode tunnel !
crypto map CMAP 10 ipsec-isakmp
set peer 192.168.1.1 set transform-set TSET match address 101 !
interface GigabitEthernet0/1 ip address 192.168.1.2 255.255.255.0 crypto map CMAP
!
access-list 101 permit ip 10.2.2.0 0.0.0.255 10.1.1.0 0.0.0.255
Which statement is true?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that only transform sets (phase 2) need to match, while IKE phase 1 parameters like lifetime are overlooked, causing candidates to incorrectly select option A.
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 IKE phase 1 will fail due to ISAKMP lifetime mismatch.
The ISAKMP lifetime configured on R2 is 3600 seconds (1 hour), but the question implies the remote peer (192.168.1.1) has a different lifetime (likely the default of 86400 seconds). During IKE phase 1 negotiation, the peers propose their lifetimes, and if they do not match, the session fails because Cisco IOS requires identical lifetime values for successful phase 1 establishment. This mismatch causes the IKE phase 1 to fail, preventing the IPsec tunnel from forming.
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 IPsec tunnel will establish successfully because the transform sets match.
Why it's wrong here
Even though transform sets match, the ISAKMP lifetime mismatch will prevent IKE phase 1 completion.
- ✓
The IKE phase 1 will fail due to ISAKMP lifetime mismatch.
Why this is correct
ISAKMP policies must match exactly, including lifetime. A mismatch causes negotiation failure.
- ✗
The tunnel will work but will rekey every hour due to the shorter lifetime.
Why it's wrong here
The tunnel cannot establish at all because IKE phase 1 fails.
- ✗
The pre-shared key mismatch will cause the tunnel to fail.
Why it's wrong here
Both sides use the same key 'secretkey', so that is not an issue.
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.
Go deeper
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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.