easyMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: The default role of an interface in IPv6 Neighbor…
What is the default role of an interface in IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Inspection when no policy is explicitly applied?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that all interfaces start as trusted or that a 'host' or 'server' role exists, when in fact the default is untrusted and only two roles (untrusted and trusted) are defined for NDI.
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
✓
Untrusted
In IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Inspection (NDI), an interface is considered untrusted by default when no policy is explicitly applied. This default ensures that all incoming Neighbor Discovery (ND) messages are subject to validation against the binding table, preventing attacks such as Neighbor Advertisement spoofing and Duplicate Address Detection (DAD) exploitation. Only interfaces explicitly configured with a trust policy bypass this inspection.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Untrusted
Why this is correct
IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Inspection treats every interface as untrusted until a trust policy is explicitly bound to it, so no Neighbor Advertisement or Neighbor Solicitation messages are inspected or permitted by default. This default-deny stance satisfies the stem's condition of no policy being applied.
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Trusted
Why it's wrong here
In IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Inspection, an interface without an explicit policy defaults to untrusted, not trusted; a trusted role would bypass the Neighbor Advertisement and Neighbor Solicitation validation checks that the feature enforces. This option tempts because many security features, such as DHCP snooping or IP Source Guard, treat an unconfigured interface as trusted by default, but ND Inspection inverts that logic to block rogue neighbour messages until a policy explicitly permits them.
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Server
Why it's wrong here
IPv6 ND Inspection interfaces default to the host role, not server; the server role must be explicitly configured with ipv6 nd inspection role server. It is tempting because servers validate bindings, but that behaviour only applies once an interface is deliberately designated as server.
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Host
Why it's wrong here
IPv6 Neighbor Discovery Inspection denies Neighbor Solicitation and Advertisement messages by default until a policy explicitly permits them, so no permissive role applies. The Host designation is tempting because it describes a device's function in ND, but that is an addressing concept, not the inspection default.
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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.