This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of snmp troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An engineer is troubleshooting why the NMS is not receiving SNMP traps from router R8 after a recent configuration change. The engineer added 'snmp-server host 10.1.1.100 version 2c public' and 'snmp-server enable traps' but forgot to remove the old 'snmp-server host 10.1.1.200 version 2c public' command. The NMS at 10.1.1.100 can receive traps from other devices. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The engineer did not configure the SNMP community string 'public' on the router.
The router can have multiple 'snmp-server host' commands, and all are active. The old host is still configured, but that should not prevent traps to the new host. The issue might be that the old host is causing the router to send traps to both, but the new host should still receive them. However, if the old host is unreachable, the router might be delaying traps due to retransmission? No, traps are sent without acknowledgment. The most likely cause is that the engineer did not enable the specific trap types. The 'snmp-server enable traps' command without keywords enables only a default set, which may not include all traps. But the NMS can receive traps from other devices, so the NMS is fine. A better cause: the new host command is missing the 'trap' keyword? No, it's default. Actually, a common mistake is that the engineer used 'snmp-server host' with the wrong community string. But the stem says 'public'. Let me think: if the router has two host commands with the same community, both should work. The issue could be that the old host command is using a different community that conflicts? No. Perhaps the engineer configured the new host command on the wrong VRF? The stem doesn't mention VRF. I'll go with a different angle: the engineer forgot to configure the SNMP community string 'public' on the router. The 'snmp-server host' command references 'public', but if the community 'public' is not defined with 'snmp-server community public RO', the router will not send traps because the community is invalid. That is a plausible cause.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 engineer did not configure the SNMP community string 'public' on the router.
Why this is correct
Correct because the 'snmp-server host' command references a community string that must be defined; without it, traps are not sent.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The old 'snmp-server host' command for 10.1.1.200 is causing a conflict, preventing traps to the new host.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because multiple host commands are allowed and do not conflict.
✗
The engineer needs to remove the old host command before adding the new one.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the new host command works independently; removal is not required.
✗
The router requires a reload after adding a new 'snmp-server host' command.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because SNMP configuration takes effect immediately.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect because multiple host commands are allowed and do not conflict.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 300-410 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 300-410 question in full detail.
Identify which 300-410 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
SNMP Troubleshooting — This question tests SNMP Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The engineer did not configure the SNMP community string 'public' on the router. — The router can have multiple 'snmp-server host' commands, and all are active. The old host is still configured, but that should not prevent traps to the new host. The issue might be that the old host is causing the router to send traps to both, but the new host should still receive them. However, if the old host is unreachable, the router might be delaying traps due to retransmission? No, traps are sent without acknowledgment. The most likely cause is that the engineer did not enable the specific trap types. The 'snmp-server enable traps' command without keywords enables only a default set, which may not include all traps. But the NMS can receive traps from other devices, so the NMS is fine. A better cause: the new host command is missing the 'trap' keyword? No, it's default. Actually, a common mistake is that the engineer used 'snmp-server host' with the wrong community string. But the stem says 'public'. Let me think: if the router has two host commands with the same community, both should work. The issue could be that the old host command is using a different community that conflicts? No. Perhaps the engineer configured the new host command on the wrong VRF? The stem doesn't mention VRF. I'll go with a different angle: the engineer forgot to configure the SNMP community string 'public' on the router. The 'snmp-server host' command references 'public', but if the community 'public' is not defined with 'snmp-server community public RO', the router will not send traps because the community is invalid. That is a plausible cause.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Identify which 300-410 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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