350-401 Infrastructure Practice Question
A network engineer is implementing a first-hop redundancy protocol on a pair of Cisco switches. The design requires that the standby router take over if the active router fails, and that the virtual MAC address be 0000.0c07.ac0a. Which protocol and group number are being used?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is misinterpreting the hexadecimal group number or confusing the MAC address formats of different first-hop redundancy protocols.
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
✓
HSRP group 10
The virtual MAC address 0000.0c07.ac0a indicates HSRP with group 10 because the last two hex digits (0a) represent the group number in hexadecimal. HSRP uses this MAC format, while VRRP and GLBP use different formats.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
HSRP group 10
Why this is correct
HSRP uses a virtual MAC address in the format 0000.0c07.acXX, where XX is the group number in hexadecimal. The address 0000.0c07.ac0a corresponds to group 10 (0a in hex equals 10 in decimal). HSRP provides redundancy with an active and standby router.
- ✗
HSRP group 170
Why it's wrong here
HSRP group numbers are in the range 0-255, and the virtual MAC uses the group number in hexadecimal. The hex 0a equals decimal 10, not 170. Group 170 would be 0xAA, resulting in a MAC of 0000.0c07.acaa.
- ✗
VRRP group 10
Why it's wrong here
VRRP uses a virtual MAC address in the format 0000.5e00.01XX, where XX is the VRID in hexadecimal. The address 0000.0c07.ac0a is not a VRRP MAC. VRRP also uses master/backup terminology, but the MAC format is different.
- ✗
GLBP group 10
Why it's wrong here
GLBP uses virtual MAC addresses in the format 0007.b400.XXYY, where XX is the group number and YY is the forwarder number. The address 0000.0c07.ac0a does not match GLBP. GLBP provides load balancing across multiple forwarders, unlike HSRP.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
SDN Controllers and Cisco ACI
Key term
HSRP vs VRRP vs GLBP
HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP are network protocols that provide high availability by allowing multiple routers to work together as a single virtual router, ensuring that if one router fails, another automatically takes over without disrupting the network.
Key term
First Hop Redundancy Protocol
A First Hop Redundancy Protocol provides automatic backup for the default gateway router on a network so that devices keep working if the primary router fails.
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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
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