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350-401 Practice Question: Configures SNMPv2c on a Cisco router to monitor…
A network engineer configures SNMPv2c on a Cisco router to monitor CPU and memory utilization. The NMS is reachable and configured with the same community string 'public'. However, the NMS receives no traps from the router. The engineer verifies that the router's SNMP configuration includes 'snmp-server enable traps' and 'snmp-server host 192.168.1.100 version 2c public'. What is the most likely cause of the missing traps?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that 'snmp-server enable traps' alone enables all trap types, when in fact it only enables generic traps, and specific MIB-based traps (like CPU and memory) require additional subcommands.
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
✓
The router lacks specific trap configuration for CPU and memory utilization.
SNMPv2c requires explicit trap configuration for specific MIB objects. The 'snmp-server enable traps' command enables generic trap notifications (like linkUp/linkDown), but CPU and memory utilization traps are defined in the CISCO-PROCESS-MIB and CISCO-MEMORY-POOL-MIB, which require additional 'snmp-server enable traps cpu' and 'snmp-server enable traps memory' commands. Without these specific configurations, the router will not send CPU or memory utilization traps even if the NMS is reachable.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The router's SNMP agent is disabled.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the command 'snmp-server enable traps' is only valid when the SNMP agent is already operational; the agent is enabled by default once any SNMP configuration exists on the router. The ability to receive SNMP polls and the presence of host definitions in the configuration prove the agent is running. The failure lies in the lack of specific trap enablement for CPU and memory thresholds, not in the agent being disabled.
- ✗
The community string 'public' is not defined on the router.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the community string 'public' referenced in the 'snmp-server host' command only authenticates trap messages to the NMS; its absence on the router would prevent the NMS from accepting traps, but it would not stop the router from generating them. The router needs a defined 'snmp-server community public RO' to respond to polls, but trap generation is controlled independently by specific trap enable commands. Since the problem is that no CPU or memory utilization traps are sent, the community string is not the root cause.
- ✓
The router lacks specific trap configuration for CPU and memory utilization.
Why this is correct
This is correct because 'snmp-server enable traps' alone only enables the trap subsystem globally; it does not automatically enable every notification type. On Cisco IOS, high CPU and memory utilization traps require explicit configuration with commands such as 'snmp-server enable traps cpu threshold' and 'snmp-server enable traps memory', often combined with 'snmp-server cpu threshold' to set the actual trigger level. Without these specific commands, the router will not emit the desired performance traps.
- ✗
The NMS is using SNMPv3, which is incompatible with SNMPv2c traps.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the configuration explicitly specifies SNMPv2c in the 'snmp-server host' command (e.g., 'version 2c'), so the NMS is set to receive v2c traps. SNMPv3 is a separate protocol with user-based security, but a router can send v2c and v3 traps to different hosts simultaneously if both are configured. The absence of CPU/memory trap configuration is independent of the SNMP version in use, so this is not a compatibility issue.
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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.