- A
Configure a static route in VRF DEV pointing to the firewall's IP address in VRF PROD, and use the route-map to leak the route.
Correct because route leaking allows one VRF to use a next-hop in another VRF. A static route with the appropriate VRF and route-map can achieve this.
- B
Place the firewall interface in both VRFs using the ip vrf forwarding command on the same interface.
Why wrong: Incorrect because a single interface can only belong to one VRF.
- C
Create a VLAN trunk between the switch and firewall, and assign the same VLAN to both VRFs.
Why wrong: Incorrect because a VLAN cannot be in two VRFs simultaneously.
- D
Use policy-based routing (PBR) in VRF DEV to forward traffic to the firewall's MAC address.
Why wrong: Incorrect because PBR does not solve the VRF isolation; the firewall is in a different VRF, so the switch cannot directly forward to it without route leaking.
350-401 VRF and Path Isolation Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of vrf and path isolation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 is troubleshooting a VRF-lite deployment on a Cisco Nexus 9000 switch. Two VRFs, PROD and DEV, are configured. The switch has an SVI for VLAN 10 in VRF PROD and VLAN 20 in VRF DEV. A firewall is connected to a Layer 3 port in VRF PROD for internet access. The engineer needs to allow the DEV VRF to reach the internet through the same firewall, but without using a separate physical interface. What should the engineer configure?
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 static route in VRF DEV pointing to the firewall's IP address in VRF PROD, and use the route-map to leak the route.
Option A is correct because VRF-lite does not support direct route leaking between VRFs without an external mechanism. By configuring a static route in VRF DEV pointing to the firewall's IP address (which resides in VRF PROD) and using a route-map to leak the route, the engineer enables inter-VRF routing. This allows DEV traffic to reach the firewall's interface in PROD without requiring a separate physical interface, as the route-map controls which prefixes are shared between VRFs.
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 static route in VRF DEV pointing to the firewall's IP address in VRF PROD, and use the route-map to leak the route.
Why this is correct
Correct because route leaking allows one VRF to use a next-hop in another VRF. A static route with the appropriate VRF and route-map can achieve this.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Place the firewall interface in both VRFs using the ip vrf forwarding command on the same interface.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because a single interface can only belong to one VRF.
- ✗
Create a VLAN trunk between the switch and firewall, and assign the same VLAN to both VRFs.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because a VLAN cannot be in two VRFs simultaneously.
- ✗
Use policy-based routing (PBR) in VRF DEV to forward traffic to the firewall's MAC address.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because PBR does not solve the VRF isolation; the firewall is in a different VRF, so the switch cannot directly forward to it without route leaking.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a single interface can belong to multiple VRFs simultaneously, or that VLANs can be shared across VRFs, leading candidates to choose options that violate VRF isolation principles.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In VRF-lite, route leaking between VRFs is typically achieved using static routes with the 'global' keyword or via route-maps that match and set VRF attributes. The route-map approach allows selective prefix advertisement, ensuring that only specific routes (e.g., a default route) are leaked from PROD to DEV. This method is preferred over dynamic protocols like MP-BGP in VRF-lite environments because it avoids the complexity of full routing protocol configuration while maintaining control over route distribution.
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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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VRF and Path Isolation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
VRF and Path Isolation — This question tests VRF and Path Isolation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a static route in VRF DEV pointing to the firewall's IP address in VRF PROD, and use the route-map to leak the route. — Option A is correct because VRF-lite does not support direct route leaking between VRFs without an external mechanism. By configuring a static route in VRF DEV pointing to the firewall's IP address (which resides in VRF PROD) and using a route-map to leak the route, the engineer enables inter-VRF routing. This allows DEV traffic to reach the firewall's interface in PROD without requiring a separate physical interface, as the route-map controls which prefixes are shared between VRFs.
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.
About these practice questions
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
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.
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