- A
Configure a centralized QoS policy on vManage that matches VoIP DSCP markings and applies priority queuing on all WAN edge routers.
Centralized policies are pushed from vManage to all edges, providing uniform QoS across the fabric.
- B
Define a localized QoS policy on each branch router using MQC, matching the same DSCP values.
Why wrong: Localized policies must be configured per device, which is less scalable and prone to inconsistency; centralized policy is the architectural choice for SD-WAN.
- C
Use the vSmart controller to apply QoS policy only on the MPLS transport, leaving Internet and LTE unmanaged.
Why wrong: This would not provide consistent treatment across all transports, violating the requirement.
- D
Implement QoS using RSVP across the overlay tunnels.
Why wrong: RSVP is not used in SD-WAN; the fabric uses centralized policy-based QoS.
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure a centralized QoS policy on vManage that matches VoIP DSCP markings and applies priority queuing on all WAN edge routers. This is correct because vManage acts as the centralized management plane in a Cisco SD-WAN fabric, allowing you to define a single policy that is pushed to all vEdge or cEdge devices via the vSmart controller, ensuring consistent priority treatment for VoIP traffic regardless of whether the underlying transport is MPLS, Internet, or LTE. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this tests your understanding of how SD-WAN decouples policy from transport—a common trap is assuming QoS must be configured per-interface on each router, but vManage’s centralized approach is the key differentiator. Remember the mnemonic: “vManage matches, vSmart distributes, vEdge enforces”—the policy lives in the overlay, not the underlay.
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.
A network team is designing QoS for a Cisco SD-WAN fabric connecting multiple branch offices to a central data center. The design must ensure that VoIP traffic from branch sites receives priority treatment across the WAN overlay, regardless of the underlying transport (MPLS, Internet, LTE). Which architectural component should the team configure to enforce consistent QoS policies across all WAN edges?
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
Configure a centralized QoS policy on vManage that matches VoIP DSCP markings and applies priority queuing on all WAN edge routers.
Option A is correct because vManage serves as the centralized SD-WAN management plane, allowing administrators to define a single QoS policy that matches VoIP DSCP markings (e.g., EF for expedited forwarding) and applies priority queuing across all WAN edge routers. This ensures consistent treatment of VoIP traffic over any transport (MPLS, Internet, LTE) by pushing the policy to all vEdge/cEdge devices via the vSmart controller, leveraging the SD-WAN overlay's ability to enforce QoS independently of the underlying physical transport.
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.
- ✓
Configure a centralized QoS policy on vManage that matches VoIP DSCP markings and applies priority queuing on all WAN edge routers.
Why this is correct
Centralized policies are pushed from vManage to all edges, providing uniform QoS across the fabric.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Define a localized QoS policy on each branch router using MQC, matching the same DSCP values.
Why it's wrong here
Localized policies must be configured per device, which is less scalable and prone to inconsistency; centralized policy is the architectural choice for SD-WAN.
- ✗
Use the vSmart controller to apply QoS policy only on the MPLS transport, leaving Internet and LTE unmanaged.
Why it's wrong here
This would not provide consistent treatment across all transports, violating the requirement.
- ✗
Implement QoS using RSVP across the overlay tunnels.
Why it's wrong here
RSVP is not used in SD-WAN; the fabric uses centralized policy-based QoS.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that QoS policies must be configured locally on each router (Option B) or that RSVP is required for guaranteed service in SD-WAN, but the key is that SD-WAN centralizes QoS management via vManage and vSmart to ensure consistency across all transports.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco SD-WAN, QoS policies are defined centrally in vManage using a hierarchical structure: a QoS-map (e.g., mapping DSCP to forwarding class), a scheduler (e.g., priority, bandwidth allocation), and a rewrite rule (e.g., setting DSCP on egress). The vSmart controller distributes these policies to all WAN edge routers via OMP (Overlay Management Protocol), ensuring that even if the underlying transport changes (e.g., failover from MPLS to LTE), the same queuing behavior applies. A real-world scenario is a branch office with a 4G LTE backup link; without centralized QoS, VoIP might be queued with bulk data, causing jitter, but with the centralized policy, the EF-marked VoIP traffic is always placed in the priority queue regardless of transport.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
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: Configure a centralized QoS policy on vManage that matches VoIP DSCP markings and applies priority queuing on all WAN edge routers. — Option A is correct because vManage serves as the centralized SD-WAN management plane, allowing administrators to define a single QoS policy that matches VoIP DSCP markings (e.g., EF for expedited forwarding) and applies priority queuing across all WAN edge routers. This ensures consistent treatment of VoIP traffic over any transport (MPLS, Internet, LTE) by pushing the policy to all vEdge/cEdge devices via the vSmart controller, leveraging the SD-WAN overlay's ability to enforce QoS independently of the underlying physical transport.
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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Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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