350-401 Network Assurance Practice Question
A network engineer is analyzing Cisco DNA Center Assurance data to troubleshoot a wireless client's poor performance. The engineer observes that the client's health score is low due to high retry rates and low SNR. Which TWO Assurance metrics should the engineer examine to further diagnose the issue? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is selecting wired or WAN metrics like switch CPU or WAN latency, which are unrelated to wireless RF symptoms such as high retry rates and low SNR.
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
✓
AP channel utilization and interference
To diagnose high retry rates and low SNR, the engineer should examine RF-related metrics. Client RSSI and SNR trends reveal signal quality and potential coverage gaps. AP channel utilization and interference show if the channel is congested or noisy. Together, these metrics help identify whether the issue is due to distance, interference, or channel overlap. Other metrics like switch CPU, WAN latency, or DHCP utilization do not directly address wireless RF performance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
AP channel utilization and interference
Why this is correct
AP channel utilization and interference metrics show how congested the wireless channel is and whether external interference is present. High channel utilization or interference can cause high retry rates and low SNR. DNA Center Assurance provides these metrics per AP and band, enabling the engineer to identify if the issue is due to co-channel interference or a noisy environment.
- ✗
Switch CPU utilization
Why it's wrong here
Switch CPU utilization is a wired network metric that does not directly affect wireless client SNR or retry rates. While high switch CPU can impact overall network performance, it is not a primary cause of wireless signal quality issues. The engineer should focus on wireless-specific metrics like RF conditions and channel utilization.
- ✗
DHCP pool utilization
Why it's wrong here
DHCP pool utilization indicates how many IP addresses are in use but does not impact wireless signal quality or retry rates. While DHCP issues can affect connectivity, they do not cause high retry rates or low SNR. This metric is irrelevant to the RF-related symptoms described.
- ✗
WAN latency and jitter
Why it's wrong here
WAN latency and jitter affect application performance over the wide area but are not directly related to wireless client SNR or retry rates. These metrics are relevant for WAN troubleshooting, not local wireless RF issues. The client's poor performance is likely due to local RF conditions, not WAN characteristics.
- ✓
Client RSSI and SNR trends
Why this is correct
Client RSSI and SNR trends in DNA Center Assurance provide historical and real-time signal quality data. Low SNR directly impacts retry rates and throughput. Examining these trends helps determine if the client is moving out of range or experiencing interference, which are common causes of poor wireless performance. This metric is directly relevant to the observed symptoms.
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IP Services: DHCP, NAT, and DNS
Key term
Cisco DNA Center
A centralized network management and automation platform from Cisco that provides intent-based networking for easier configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of Cisco devices.
Key term
Cisco DNA Center Assurance
Cisco DNA Center Assurance is a network monitoring and analytics tool within Cisco's DNA Center platform that provides real-time visibility, proactive alerts, and historical insights into network health, performance, and user experience.
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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
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.