The correct conclusion is that the tunnel is using pre-shared keys for authentication, as confirmed by the “Auth sign: PSK” and “Auth verify: PSK” fields in the output. When you show crypto ikev2 sa detail and see a status of UP-ACTIVE with the role INITIATOR and READY state, it means both IKEv2 phases have completed successfully, and the security association is fully established. The encryption (AES-CBC 256), hash (SHA256), and DH Group 14 are strong parameters, but the authentication method is explicitly PSK, not certificates or EAP. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this command tests your ability to read IKEv2 SA details and distinguish between authentication types—a common trap is assuming “UP-ACTIVE” alone tells you the method, but you must check the Auth fields. Remember the mnemonic “PSK = Pre-Shared Key, always check the Auth sign line” to avoid confusing it with certificate-based authentication.
350-401 VPN Technologies Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of vpn technologies. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 engineer runs the following command on Router R7:
R7# show crypto ikev2 sa detail
IKEv2 SAs:
Session-id:1, Status:UP-ACTIVE, IKE count:1, Child count:1
Tunnel-id Local Remote Status Role
1 10.1.1.1/4500 10.2.2.2/4500 READY INITIATOR
Encr: AES-CBC 256, Hash: SHA256, DH Grp:14, Auth sign: PSK, Auth verify: PSK
Life/Active Time: 86400/3600 sec
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The tunnel is using pre-shared keys for authentication.
The IKEv2 SA is UP-ACTIVE with status READY. The encryption is AES-CBC 256, hash SHA256, DH Group 14, and authentication is PSK. The tunnel is working correctly.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 IKEv2 SA is in a failed state because it is READY.
Why it's wrong here
READY is a normal operational state for an IKEv2 SA.
✓
The tunnel is using pre-shared keys for authentication.
Why this is correct
The output shows 'Auth sign: PSK' and 'Auth verify: PSK', confirming PSK authentication.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The tunnel is using RSA signatures for authentication.
Why it's wrong here
The output shows PSK, not RSA.
✗
The IKEv2 SA has expired because the life time is 86400 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
The life time is 86400 seconds (24 hours), and the active time is 3600 seconds (1 hour), so it is still valid.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The output shows PSK, not RSA.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 350-401 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
VPN Technologies — This question tests VPN Technologies — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The tunnel is using pre-shared keys for authentication. — The IKEv2 SA is UP-ACTIVE with status READY. The encryption is AES-CBC 256, hash SHA256, DH Group 14, and authentication is PSK. The tunnel is working correctly.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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