mediumMultiple Choice
350-401 Practice Question: Examine the following configuration: flow…
Examine the following configuration:
flow exporter EXPORTER-1 destination 10.0.0.1 source Loopback0 transport udp 2055 option interface-table option application-table !
What is the purpose of the 'option interface-table' and 'option application-table' commands?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'exporting metadata' versus 'filtering or collecting locally' — the trap here is assuming these commands affect which flows are sent rather than enriching the data the collector receives.
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
✓
They cause the exporter to send interface and application metadata to the collector periodically.
The 'option interface-table' and 'option application-table' commands configure the NetFlow exporter to periodically send metadata (interface names/descriptions and application-to-port mappings) to the collector. This metadata is essential for the collector to interpret flow records correctly, especially when interfaces are renamed or applications are dynamically mapped. The exporter sends these options templates at a default interval (e.g., every 600 seconds) via UDP 2055, independent of regular flow records.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
They cause the exporter to send interface and application metadata to the collector periodically.
Why this is correct
In NetFlow v9 and IPFIX, option data records are carried in dedicated option template flow sets that the exporter transmits on a periodic interval. These records supply metadata such as interface names, interface descriptions, and application IDs, which the collector uses to enrich the flow records it has already received. Because option data is refresh-based, the exporter re-sends it so the collector always has current context.
- ✗
They filter the flow data to include only traffic from the specified interfaces and applications.
Why it's wrong here
Option data records do not perform any filtering of traffic. Flow filtering is determined independently by the flow record definitions, the export filter, or the sampler configuration on the exporter. The purpose of option data is purely informational, providing supplementary detail about observed interfaces and applications rather than restricting which flows are exported.
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They enable the exporter to collect interface and application statistics locally.
Why it's wrong here
The exporter does not retain or analyze interface and application statistics locally; its role is to capture and send the data to the collector. Option data records are serialized into the NetFlow/IPFIX export stream and forwarded, not stored for local retrieval. Local collection would suggest a polling model like SNMP, which contradicts the push-based design of NetFlow.
- ✗
They are required only when using IPFIX, not NetFlow v9.
Why it's wrong here
Option data records are supported in both NetFlow v9 and IPFIX; there is no requirement that only IPFIX use them. NetFlow v9 introduced the concept of option templates, and IPFIX carried it forward as a standardized mechanism. The difference between the two is largely in the option template definition and enterprise-specific extensions, not in the existence of option data.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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