mediumMultiple Choice
350-401 Practice Question: Consider the following configuration: policy-map…
Consider the following configuration:
policy-map QUEUE_POLICY
class VOICE
priority level 1 police cir 1000000
class VIDEO
priority level 2 police cir 2000000
class class-default
fair-queue
What is the effect of using priority level 1 and priority level 2?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume only one priority queue is allowed per policy-map, but Cisco tests the 'priority level' feature which permits multiple priority queues with hierarchical strict scheduling.
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
✓
VOICE traffic (level 1) is always sent before VIDEO traffic (level 2), and both are policed.
The 'priority level' command under a class in a policy-map allows multiple priority queues with different levels. Level 1 is the highest priority, so VOICE traffic (level 1) is always scheduled before VIDEO traffic (level 2). Both classes are also subject to policing, which enforces a maximum rate (CIR) and drops or remarks excess traffic. This ensures low-latency treatment for VOICE while still providing priority queuing for VIDEO, but with a lower scheduling preference.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
VOICE traffic (level 1) is always sent before VIDEO traffic (level 2), and both are policed.
Why this is correct
In Cisco's hierarchical QoS, 'priority level 1' and 'priority level 2' create separate strict-priority queues. The scheduler empties level 1 before level 2, so voice is always sent before video, even if video's policed rate were higher. Both levels are independently policed to their configured rates; excess traffic is dropped or optionally re-marked. This is valid on platforms such as the ASR 1000 that support multiple priority levels.
- ✗
VOICE and VIDEO traffic are treated equally and share the priority bandwidth.
Why it's wrong here
Priority levels are not equal; level 1 is strictly ordered ahead of level 2. Traffic in different priority levels is placed into separate queues, not a shared priority bandwidth. Each level has its own policer, and the scheduler does not treat them as a single aggregate to be consumed together. The statement that they share priority bandwidth is therefore incorrect.
- ✗
VIDEO traffic (level 2) is sent before VOICE traffic (level 1) because it has a higher police rate.
Why it's wrong here
The scheduling order is determined solely by the priority level, not by the configured police rate. A higher police rate does not elevate a packet's precedence; level 2 video is always scheduled after level 1 voice. If the voice policer admits less than its rate, the remaining strict-priority service is still reserved for voice, never for video. Therefore, video cannot be sent first because of a higher police rate.
- ✗
This configuration is invalid because only one priority level is allowed.
Why it's wrong here
The configuration is not invalid. Cisco platforms like the ASR 1000 explicitly support multiple priority levels (up to several) to provide a hierarchy within the strict-priority scheduling. A single-priority-level system is a limitation of simpler platforms, but the syntax here is valid on those that support it. The presence of a police command under each priority level does not make the configuration illegal.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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