mediumMultiple Choice
350-401 Practice Question: Consider the following Python script that uses…
Consider the following Python script that uses the requests library to delete a VLAN via RESTCONF on a Cisco IOS-XE device:
```python
import requests from requests.auth import HTTPBasicAuth
url = 'https://192.168.1.1/restconf/data/Cisco-IOS-XE-native:native/vlan=10' headers = { 'Accept': 'application/yang-data+json', 'Content-Type': 'application/yang-data+json'
}
auth = HTTPBasicAuth('admin', 'cisco')
response = requests.delete(url, headers=headers, auth=auth, verify=False)
print(response.status_code)
```
What is the expected outcome if the VLAN 10 exists?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse HTTP methods, thinking DELETE requires a payload like PUT/POST, or mistakenly believe DELETE can retrieve or create resources, when in fact each HTTP method has a distinct CRUD mapping in RESTCONF.
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
✓
It will delete VLAN 10 from the device configuration.
The `requests.delete()` method sends an HTTP DELETE request to the RESTCONF API endpoint for VLAN 10. When the VLAN exists, the device processes the DELETE operation and removes the VLAN configuration from the running config, returning a 204 No Content status code upon success.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It will retrieve the configuration of VLAN 10.
Why it's wrong here
The HTTP DELETE method removes the target resource; retrieval uses GET against the same URI. The script sets no method other than delete, so no configuration is returned. GET would be correct when the goal is to read VLAN 10's existing configuration rather than remove it.
- ✗
It will create VLAN 10 if it does not exist.
Why it's wrong here
DELETE removes the addressed resource; it never creates one. Creation happens through POST to the collection URI or PUT to the instance URI, both of which carry a JSON or XML representation. The stem states VLAN 10 already exists, so deletion, not creation, is the operation performed.
- ✓
It will delete VLAN 10 from the device configuration.
Why this is correct
RESTCONF DELETE against the exact data node URL removes the targeted VLAN instance; with VLAN 10 present, IOS-XE returns 204 No Content and the VLAN is removed from the running configuration. The URL path identifies the list entry, so the operation succeeds.
- ✗
It will return an error because the payload is missing.
Why it's wrong here
RESTCONF DELETE carries no body by design; the URI itself identifies the resource, so no payload is required and the request succeeds with 204 No Content. A missing payload triggers errors only for POST or PUT, where the representation must be supplied to create or replace the target resource.
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
EIGRP: Basics and Advanced Configuration
Key term
NETCONF Protocol
NETCONF is a network management protocol that uses a structured data format to configure, retrieve, and modify network devices in a standard, programmatic way.
Key term
REST API for Network Devices
A REST API for network devices is a set of rules that allows software applications to communicate with routers, switches, and firewalls using standard web methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE over HTTP or HTTPS.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-401 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-401 exam.