The answer is show monitor session 1, show monitor, and debug monitor. These three commands are essential for SPAN troubleshooting because they directly target the operational state of a SPAN session rather than its configuration; show monitor session 1 reveals the specific source, destination, and encapsulation settings for a given session, show monitor lists all active sessions at a glance, and debug monitor enables real-time logging of SPAN packet replication and errors. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between commands that verify a SPAN session is actually running versus those that merely confirm it is configured—a common trap is selecting show running-config | include monitor, which only shows configuration lines and does not indicate whether the session is operational. A useful memory tip is to think of the “three M’s”: Monitor session (specific), Monitor (general), and debug Monitor (live troubleshooting).
300-410 SPAN, RSPAN, and ERSPAN Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of span, rspan, and erspan. 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.
Which THREE commands are used to troubleshoot a SPAN session on a Cisco Catalyst switch? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
show monitor session 1
'show monitor session 1' provides details of the session. 'show monitor' lists all sessions. 'debug monitor' enables debugging for SPAN operations. 'show running-config | include monitor' shows the configuration but is not a direct troubleshooting command for operational issues. 'show ip interface brief' shows IP status, not SPAN.
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.
✓
show monitor session 1
Why this is correct
Displays the operational status and configuration of a specific SPAN session.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
show monitor
Why this is correct
Lists all configured SPAN sessions and their status.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
debug monitor
Why this is correct
Enables debugging output for SPAN events, useful for real-time troubleshooting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
show running-config | include monitor
Why it's wrong here
Shows the configuration but not the operational state or errors.
✗
show ip interface brief
Why it's wrong here
Shows IP interface status, unrelated to SPAN troubleshooting.
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
Shows the configuration but not the operational state or errors.
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.
SPAN, RSPAN, and ERSPAN — This question tests SPAN, RSPAN, and ERSPAN — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: show monitor session 1 — 'show monitor session 1' provides details of the session. 'show monitor' lists all sessions. 'debug monitor' enables debugging for SPAN operations. 'show running-config | include monitor' shows the configuration but is not a direct troubleshooting command for operational issues. 'show ip interface brief' shows IP status, not SPAN.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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