mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
350-401 Practice Question: Which two statements about using Python for…
Which two statements about using Python for network automation with Cisco devices are true? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Netmiko is a Python library that simplifies SSH connections to network devices by handling authentication and session establishment.
The correct answers highlight key aspects of Python automation: Netmiko simplifies SSH management by handling authentication and connection, and NAPALM provides a vendor-agnostic API for retrieving operational data. The incorrect options misrepresent Python's role: Python does not compile to native machine code (it is interpreted), netmiko is not limited to Cisco (it supports many vendors), and paramiko is lower-level than Netmiko, not the other way around.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Netmiko is a Python library that simplifies SSH connections to network devices by handling authentication and session establishment.
Why this is correct
Correct because Netmiko is built on Paramiko and provides a higher-level interface for SSH connections, including automatic handling of device prompts and authentication.
- ✓
NAPALM can be used to retrieve operational state data from network devices using a vendor-agnostic API.
Why this is correct
Correct because NAPALM (Network Automation and Programmability Abstraction Layer with Multivendor support) provides a unified API to gather facts, configuration, and operational data from different network operating systems.
- ✗
Python scripts for network automation are compiled into native machine code for faster execution.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because Python is an interpreted language; it is not compiled to native machine code but rather executed by the Python interpreter (CPython compiles to bytecode, not machine code).
- ✗
The netmiko library can only be used with Cisco IOS devices.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because Netmiko supports a wide range of vendors including Cisco, Juniper, Arista, HP, and many others, not just Cisco IOS.
- ✗
Paramiko is a higher-level library than Netmiko and provides additional automation features.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because Paramiko is a lower-level SSH implementation; Netmiko is built on top of Paramiko and provides higher-level abstractions for network automation.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Architecture Fundamentals
Key term
Python for Network Engineers
Python for Network Engineers is the use of the Python programming language to automate, configure, monitor, and troubleshoot network devices like routers and switches.
Key term
Cisco DNA Center Automation
Cisco DNA Center Automation is a centralized software platform that simplifies network management by automatically configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting Cisco devices using policy-driven intent and software tools.
About these practice questions
This 350-401 question is part of Courseiva's 1,175-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more way 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. Which two statements about using Python for network automation are true? (Choose two.)
medium- ✓ A.The netmiko library is commonly used to automate SSH connections to Cisco devices.
- B.The paramiko library provides a high-level API for network automation tasks.
- ✓ C.The requests library can be used to send HTTP requests to REST APIs on network devices.
- D.The telnetlib library is recommended for secure network automation.
- E.The scapy library is used to send configuration commands to network devices.
Why A: Correct answers: A and C. A is correct because the netmiko library simplifies SSH connections to network devices and is widely used for sending commands. C is correct because the requests library can be used to interact with REST APIs on devices like Cisco DNA Center or IOS-XE. B is incorrect because paramiko is a low-level SSH library, not a high-level one; netmiko is built on paramiko but adds higher-level abstractions. D is incorrect because the telnetlib library is for Telnet, which is insecure and rarely used in modern automation. E is incorrect because the scapy library is for packet manipulation and network scanning, not for sending configuration commands.
JA
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.