mediumMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: Runs the following command to troubleshoot an…
A network engineer runs the following command to troubleshoot an ERSPAN issue:
R1# show monitor session 3 detail
Session 3 --------- Type : ERSPAN Source Session Source Ports : Both : Gi0/0 Destination IP : 10.1.1.1 ERSPAN ID : 100
What does this output indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse ERSPAN with RSPAN or local SPAN, leading candidates to incorrectly think the destination must be a VLAN or that the ERSPAN ID must match on both ends.
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 session is correctly configured as an ERSPAN source session.
The output shows a valid ERSPAN source session configuration: it specifies a source port (Gi0/0), a destination IP (10.1.1.1), and an ERSPAN ID (100). ERSPAN encapsulates mirrored traffic in GRE and sends it to a destination IP address, so the presence of a destination IP is correct and expected. The session type is explicitly 'ERSPAN Source Session', confirming the intended role. No misconfiguration is evident from the displayed parameters.
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 session is correctly configured as an ERSPAN source session.
Why this is correct
The output confirms an ERSPAN source session: source port Gi0/0, destination IP 10.1.1.1, and ERSPAN ID 100 are all present, which are the required parameters for encapsulating mirrored traffic in GRE for remote delivery. No error or missing field appears.
- ✗
The session is misconfigured because the destination must be a VLAN, not an IP.
Why it's wrong here
ERSPAN encapsulates mirrored traffic in GRE and tunnels it to a destination IP address, so an IP destination is exactly what this session type requires. A VLAN destination belongs to local SPAN or RSPAN configurations, where mirrored frames stay on Layer 2 rather than being routed.
- ✗
The session is misconfigured because the source port must be a VLAN.
Why it's wrong here
ERSPAN source sessions accept physical or port-channel interfaces, and the output shows Gi0/0 configured as a source port, which is valid. VLANs are used with SPAN VLAN source sessions, not ERSPAN; the ERSPAN session itself is not misconfigured on that basis.
- ✗
The session is misconfigured because the ERSPAN ID must match on both source and destination.
Why it's wrong here
The ERSPAN ID is carried in the GRE header of the encapsulated frames and is configured only on the source session; the destination session does not need a matching ID to receive traffic. Requiring identical IDs on both ends is a common misconception, since ERSPAN is one-directional from source to destination.
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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on 300-410
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A network engineer runs the following command to troubleshoot an ERSPAN issue: R1# show monitor session 5 detail Session 5 --------- Type : ERSPAN Destination Session Source IP : 10.1.1.2 ERSPAN ID : 100 Destination Ports : Gi0/3 Encapsulation : Native Ingress : Disabled What does this output indicate?
medium- ✓ A.The session is correctly configured as an ERSPAN destination session.
- B.The session is misconfigured because the source must be a VLAN, not an IP.
- C.The session is misconfigured because the destination port must have ingress enabled.
- D.The session is misconfigured because the ERSPAN ID must be different from the source session.
Why A: The output shows a valid ERSPAN destination session: Type is 'ERSPAN Destination Session,' Source IP is the ERSPAN source's IP (10.1.1.2), ERSPAN ID is 100, and the destination port Gi0/3 is set with native encapsulation. This is exactly what a correctly configured ERSPAN destination session looks like — the switch receives the GRE-encapsulated ERSPAN traffic and forwards it out Gi0/3 to the analysis tool.
Variation 2. A network engineer runs the following command to troubleshoot an ERSPAN issue: R1# show monitor session 6 detail Session 6 --------- Type : ERSPAN Source Session Source VLANs : Both : 10-20 Destination IP : 10.1.1.3 ERSPAN ID : 200 What does this output indicate?
hard- ✓ A.The session is correctly configured to monitor VLANs 10 through 20.
- B.The session is misconfigured because ERSPAN cannot use VLANs as source.
- C.The session is misconfigured because the ERSPAN ID must be less than 100.
- D.The session is misconfigured because the destination IP must be on the same subnet.
Why A: The output shows an ERSPAN source session with source VLANs 10-20, destination IP 10.1.1.3, and ERSPAN ID 200. This is a valid ERSPAN source session using VLANs as the source.
Variation 3. A network engineer runs the following command to troubleshoot an ERSPAN issue: R1# show ip interface brief | include Gi0/0 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.1 YES NVRAM up up R1# show monitor session 7 detail Session 7 --------- Type : ERSPAN Source Session Source Ports : Both : Gi0/1 Destination IP : 10.1.1.2 ERSPAN ID : 300 What does this output indicate?
hard- ✓ A.The ERSPAN session is correctly configured and the destination IP is reachable.
- B.The ERSPAN session is misconfigured because the source port must have an IP address.
- C.The ERSPAN session is misconfigured because the destination IP must be on the same subnet as the source.
- D.The ERSPAN session is misconfigured because the ERSPAN ID must be unique across all sessions.
Why A: The output shows a valid ERSPAN source session: source port Gi0/1 is configured for 'both' directions, the destination IP 10.1.1.2 is set, and ERSPAN ID 300 is assigned. The 'show ip interface brief' confirms Gi0/0 is up/up with IP 10.1.1.1, which is the routed interface used to reach the ERSPAN destination. There is no indication of misconfiguration — the session is correctly formed and the destination is reachable via the routing table.
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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