Question 1mediumdrag order
Read the full VPN explanation →Question 85 of 2,015
Quick Answer
The correct final step in DMVPN Phase 3 spoke-to-spoke shortcut creation is that the source spoke builds a direct mGRE tunnel to the destination spoke. This sequence is driven by the NHRP redirect mechanism: when a spoke first sends data through the hub, the hub forwards the packet with an NHRP redirect flag, which triggers the source spoke to send an NHRP resolution request to the hub. The hub then replies with the destination spoke’s NBMA address, enabling the source spoke to dynamically establish a direct tunnel, bypassing the hub for subsequent traffic. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this drag-and-drop question tests your understanding of the Phase 3 shortcut flow, which differs from Phase 2 by using the hub only for initial path discovery rather than for every packet. A common trap is confusing the redirect with the resolution request order—remember that the redirect must come before the resolution request. Memory tip: “Redirect, then Request, then Reply, then Ride” — the spoke gets redirected, asks for the address, receives it, and then builds the direct tunnel.
350-401 WAN Technologies Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of wan technologies. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Drag and drop the steps of DMVPN Phase 3 spoke-to-spoke shortcut creation into the correct order, from first to last.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
Spoke sends data through hub
In DMVPN Phase 3, when a spoke needs to send traffic to another spoke, it first sends data through the hub, the hub forwards the packet with a redirect, the spoke then sends an NHRP resolution request to the hub, the hub replies with the destination spoke's NBMA address, and finally the source spoke builds a direct mGRE tunnel to the destination spoke. The correct order is: spoke sends data through hub, hub sends redirect with NHRP trigger, spoke sends NHRP resolution request to hub, hub replies with destination spoke NBMA address, source spoke builds direct mGRE tunnel to destination spoke.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
WAN Technologies — This question tests WAN Technologies — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Spoke sends data through hub — In DMVPN Phase 3, when a spoke needs to send traffic to another spoke, it first sends data through the hub, the hub forwards the packet with a redirect, the spoke then sends an NHRP resolution request to the hub, the hub replies with the destination spoke's NBMA address, and finally the source spoke builds a direct mGRE tunnel to the destination spoke. The correct order is: spoke sends data through hub, hub sends redirect with NHRP trigger, spoke sends NHRP resolution request to hub, hub replies with destination spoke NBMA address, source spoke builds direct mGRE tunnel to destination spoke.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 350-401
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. Drag and drop the steps of DMVPN Phase 3 spoke-to-spoke shortcut creation into the correct order, from first to last.
medium- ✓ A.Spoke sends traffic to hub for remote spoke
- ✓ B.Hub forwards packet with NHRP redirect
- ✓ C.Source spoke sends NHRP resolution request
- ✓ D.Hub replies with destination spoke mapping
- ✓ E.Source spoke builds direct tunnel to destination
Why A: In DMVPN Phase 3, when a spoke needs to reach another spoke, it first sends traffic to the hub. The hub forwards the packet with an NHRP redirect. The source spoke then sends an NHRP resolution request to the hub to get the destination spoke's NBMA address. The hub replies with the mapping, and the source spoke dynamically builds a direct mGRE tunnel to the destination spoke.
Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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