This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of automation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A service provider uses Cisco IOS XE routers with NETCONF/YANG for configuration management. They have a centralized automation system that pushes configuration changes via NETCONF. Recently, after a maintenance window, several routers lost connectivity to the NETCONF server. The automation system can still SSH to the routers and execute CLI commands. The engineer suspects that the NETCONF server's SSH key changed, causing the routers to reject the connection. However, checking the routers' configuration, the engineer finds that the 'netconf ssh' command is present and the SSH server is enabled. The engineer also notices that the routers have an 'ip ssh server algorithm publickey' configuration specifying a list of allowed public keys. What is the most likely cause of the NETCONF connectivity loss?
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 NETCONF server's SSH public key is not in the allowed list on the routers
The routers have an 'ip ssh server algorithm publickey' configuration that explicitly lists allowed public keys. If the NETCONF server's SSH key was changed during the maintenance window, its new public key would not match any entry in this allowed list, causing the routers to reject the SSH connection for NETCONF even though SSH itself is enabled and the 'netconf ssh' command is present. This is a common security hardening practice that restricts which SSH clients can connect.
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 NETCONF server's SSH public key is not in the allowed list on the routers
Why this is correct
The public key algorithm filter may be blocking the server's key.
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 'netconf ssh' command was removed from the router configuration
Why it's wrong here
The command is still present.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between SSH being enabled (via 'ip ssh server' or 'netconf ssh') and SSH authentication being blocked by a public key allowlist, leading candidates to overlook the 'ip ssh server algorithm publickey' restriction as the root cause.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The command is still present.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'ip ssh server algorithm publickey' command configures a list of allowed SSH public keys for client authentication, often used with RFC 4252 public key authentication. When a NETCONF server's SSH key is rotated (e.g., after maintenance), the new key must be added to this list on each router; otherwise, the SSH transport layer will reject the connection before NETCONF even initializes. This is distinct from the 'crypto key pubkey-chain ssh' configuration, which can also restrict keys, but the 'algorithm publickey' list directly filters which keys are accepted during the SSH key exchange.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 350-401 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 350-401 question in full detail.
Automation — This question tests Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The NETCONF server's SSH public key is not in the allowed list on the routers — The routers have an 'ip ssh server algorithm publickey' configuration that explicitly lists allowed public keys. If the NETCONF server's SSH key was changed during the maintenance window, its new public key would not match any entry in this allowed list, causing the routers to reject the SSH connection for NETCONF even though SSH itself is enabled and the 'netconf ssh' command is present. This is a common security hardening practice that restricts which SSH clients can connect.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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Question Discussion
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