The answer is that the police command in a QoS policy-map limits the rate of traffic and takes immediate action—either dropping or remarking packets—on traffic that exceeds the configured rate. This is correct because policing enforces a hard rate limit by measuring traffic flow in real time and acting on non-compliant packets without buffering, unlike shaping which queues excess traffic. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept tests your understanding of traffic conditioning at the ingress or egress of an interface, often appearing in questions that contrast policing with shaping or that ask about the actions available under a police statement. A common trap is confusing policing with shaping, so remember that policing drops or remarks on the spot, while shaping delays. For a quick memory tip, think of a police officer at a checkpoint: if you exceed the speed limit, you get a ticket immediately—no waiting in line.
350-401 QoS Architecture Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of qos architecture. 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.
What is the purpose of the 'police' command in a QoS policy-map?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
To limit the rate of traffic and take action (drop or remark) on packets that exceed the rate.
The 'police' command in a Cisco QoS policy-map implements traffic policing, which enforces a rate limit by measuring traffic flow and taking immediate action—typically dropping or remarking packets—when the traffic exceeds the configured rate. Unlike shaping, policing does not buffer excess traffic; it acts on packets in real time, making it ideal for marking down or discarding non-compliant traffic at the ingress or egress of an interface.
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.
✗
To shape traffic to a specific rate by buffering excess packets.
Why it's wrong here
Shaping buffers excess packets; policing drops or remarks them.
✓
To limit the rate of traffic and take action (drop or remark) on packets that exceed the rate.
Why this is correct
Policing enforces a rate limit by dropping or remarking excess traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
To prioritize traffic by assigning it to a strict priority queue.
Why it's wrong here
Priority queuing is done with the priority command, not police.
✗
To classify traffic based on IP precedence or DSCP values.
Why it's wrong here
Classification is done with class-maps and match commands.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between policing and shaping—the trap here is that candidates confuse 'police' with 'shape' because both limit traffic rates, but policing drops/remarks without buffering, while shaping queues and delays excess traffic.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Priority queuing is done with the priority command, not police.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Policing uses a token bucket algorithm (typically single-rate or dual-rate, three-color marker per RFC 2697/2698) to measure conformance; packets that exceed the committed information rate (CIR) are either dropped or have their DSCP/IP precedence marked down (e.g., from AF41 to AF31). In a real-world scenario, an ISP might police customer traffic at 10 Mbps and mark excess as 'scavenger' (DSCP CS1) to minimize impact on premium traffic, while shaping would buffer and delay, which is unsuitable for real-time applications.
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.
QoS Architecture — This question tests QoS Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: To limit the rate of traffic and take action (drop or remark) on packets that exceed the rate. — The 'police' command in a Cisco QoS policy-map implements traffic policing, which enforces a rate limit by measuring traffic flow and taking immediate action—typically dropping or remarking packets—when the traffic exceeds the configured rate. Unlike shaping, policing does not buffer excess traffic; it acts on packets in real time, making it ideal for marking down or discarding non-compliant traffic at the ingress or egress of an interface.
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.
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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