CCNA Automation Questions

Multi-Selecthard

Which THREE are valid methods for automating network device configuration using Cisco IOS XE? (Choose three.)

Select 3 answers

A.NETCONF/YANG

B.SNMP Set requests

C.Telnet with Expect scripts

D.CLI via SSH with Python (e.g., Netmiko)

E.RESTCONF

AnswersA, D, E

NETCONF is a standard protocol for configuration.

Why this answer

NETCONF/YANG is a valid method for automating network device configuration on Cisco IOS XE. NETCONF (RFC 6241) uses an XML-based RPC protocol to establish a secure SSH session (port 830) for configuration operations, while YANG (RFC 7950) provides a structured data model to define the configuration and state data. This combination allows for programmatic, transactional, and standardized configuration management, making it a core automation technology supported by Cisco.

Exam trap

Cisco often tests the distinction between monitoring protocols (SNMP) and configuration automation protocols (NETCONF/RESTCONF), and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think SNMP Set requests are a valid configuration automation method, overlooking that SNMP is designed for read-heavy monitoring and lacks the transactional, model-driven capabilities of YANG-based protocols.

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Matchingmedium

Match each network automation tool to its purpose.

Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.

Concepts

Matches

Agentless automation using YAML playbooks

Agent-based configuration management using Puppet DSL

Agent-based using Ruby recipes

Agent-based with remote execution

Standard for network configuration and state data

Why these pairings

Correct matches: Ansible is agentless and uses SSH/YAML; Puppet uses client-server with DSL; Chef uses server and Ruby DSL; SaltStack uses master-minion and can be agentless. Common confusions involve mixing agentless and agent-based models.

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Multi-Selecteasy

Which THREE benefits does network automation provide over manual configuration?

Select 3 answers

A.Increased security by eliminating the need for SSH access

B.Lower initial investment compared to manual processes

C.Reduced risk of configuration errors

D.Consistent configuration across all devices

E.Faster deployment of configuration changes

AnswersC, D, E

Automation eliminates manual mistakes.

Why this answer

Network automation eliminates human error during repetitive configuration tasks. By using tools like Ansible, Python scripts, or NETCONF/YANG models, configurations are applied consistently without typos or missed commands, which are common in manual CLI entry. This directly reduces the risk of syntax errors, missing parameters, or inconsistent settings that can lead to network outages.

Exam trap

Cisco often tests the misconception that automation eliminates all manual access methods like SSH, but in reality, automation relies on SSH or similar transports for device communication, and the trap is assuming automation reduces security risks by removing SSH entirely.

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Multi-Selecthard

Which TWO statements are true about RESTCONF and NETCONF in a Cisco IOS XE environment? (Choose two.)

Select 2 answers

A.RESTCONF uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and supports JSON and XML encoding.

B.RESTCONF supports the candidate datastore for editing configurations.

C.NETCONF uses HTTP as its transport protocol.

D.RESTCONF and NETCONF both support JSON and XML encoding.

E.NETCONF uses XML-encoded RPCs over a secure SSH session.

AnswersA, E

RESTCONF indeed uses HTTP methods and supports JSON and XML.

Why this answer

RESTCONF is designed to use standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH) for CRUD operations on YANG-defined data, and it supports both JSON and XML encoding formats. This aligns with its goal of providing a simpler, web-friendly interface compared to NETCONF.

Exam trap

Cisco often tests the misconception that both protocols support JSON and XML equally, or that NETCONF uses HTTP, leading candidates to select option D or C incorrectly.

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Multi-Selecteasy

Which TWO statements are true about Cisco DNA Center automation? (Choose two.)

Select 2 answers

A.DNA Center primarily uses SNMP to manage devices.

B.DNA Center only supports greenfield deployments.

C.DNA Center uses a declarative model for network configuration.

D.DNA Center provides a single dashboard for network management.

E.DNA Center uses an imperative model for network configuration.

AnswersC, D

DNA Center is declarative.

Why this answer

Cisco DNA Center uses a declarative model for network configuration. In a declarative model, the administrator specifies the desired end-state of the network (e.g., 'VLAN 10 should exist on all access switches'), and DNA Center's automation engine determines the necessary steps to achieve that state, handling dependencies and ordering automatically. This contrasts with imperative models where each step must be explicitly scripted.

Exam trap

Cisco often tests the distinction between declarative and imperative models, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly associate DNA Center's automation with imperative scripting (like Python or Ansible playbooks) rather than recognizing its intent-based, declarative nature.

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Matchingmedium

Match each QoS feature to its description.

Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.

Concepts

Matches

Identifying traffic based on specific fields

Setting the DSCP or CoS value in a packet

Dropping packets that exceed a configured rate

Buffering packets to maintain a configured rate

Managing packet order during congestion

Why these pairings

Correct matches: Classification (A), Marking (B), Policing (C), Queuing (F). Common confusions: Shaping vs. Congestion Avoidance (WRED), where Shaping buffers and WRED drops early.

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Multi-Selectmedium

Which THREE attributes are typically included in a YANG module for interface configuration? (Choose three.)

Select 3 answers

A.switchport mode

B.description

C.mtu

D.ip address

E.mac address

AnswersB, C, D

Description is a common attribute.

Why this answer

The 'description' leaf is a standard attribute in YANG models for interface configuration, providing a human-readable text string to document the interface's purpose. It is defined in the IETF interface model (RFC 8343) and is widely supported across Cisco IOS-XE and NX-OS YANG models.

Exam trap

Cisco often tests the distinction between configurable YANG leaves (like 'description', 'mtu', 'ip address') and operational state leaves (like 'mac address') or platform-specific extensions (like 'switchport mode') to see if candidates understand the standard IETF interface model versus proprietary additions.

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