mediumMultiple Select
350-401 Practice Question: Which two statements about VRF-aware services are…
Which two statements about VRF-aware services are true? (Choose two.)
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
✓
VRF-lite allows multiple routing instances on a single router using separate routing tables.
Option A is correct because VRF-lite (also called VRF without MPLS) creates multiple independent routing/forwarding instances on a single physical router, each with its own separate routing table (RIB) and forwarding table (FIB), allowing overlapping IP address spaces to be isolated without requiring MPLS. Option B is correct because VRF-aware services extend protocols and features—such as DHCP (ip dhcp pool with vrf ...), NAT (ip nat inside source ... vrf ...), and others like SNMP, syslog, and TACACS+—so each VRF can have its own independent service configuration and address space. Option C is wrong because VRF-lite explicitly supports VRFs on routers without MPLS VPN, so MPLS is not a requirement. Option D is wrong because Cisco IOS supports route leaking between VRFs via static routes with the global keyword, MP-BGP with route targets, or import/export route-targets in MPLS VPN. Option E is wrong because each VRF maintains its own separate routing table and does not share the global routing table; the global table is only used for traffic outside any VRF.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
VRF-lite allows multiple routing instances on a single router using separate routing tables.
Why this is correct
VRF-lite creates multiple independent routing and forwarding tables on one device without MPLS, letting interfaces be assigned to separate instances. This satisfies the stem's requirement for multiple routing instances on a single router using distinct tables.
- ✓
VRF-aware services such as DHCP and NAT can be configured independently per VRF.
Why this is correct
Services such as DHCP scopes and NAT rules are bound to a specific VRF, so each instance gets its own address pools and translations. This satisfies the stem's requirement that VRF-aware services be configured independently per VRF, keeping tenants isolated.
- ✗
VRF instances are only supported on routers running MPLS VPN.
Why it's wrong here
VRF instances are supported on any device that maintains separate routing and forwarding tables, including non-MPLS platforms such as Cisco IOS with VRF-Lite. The statement is tempting because MPLS VPN deployments commonly pair VRFs with route targets, but MPLS is not a prerequisite for VRF functionality.
- ✗
Route leaking between VRFs is not supported in Cisco IOS.
Why it's wrong here
Cisco IOS supports route leaking between VRFs via static routes, MP-BGP, and route-target import/export, so the statement is false. It is tempting because VRFs isolate routing by design, but controlled leaking is a standard, supported mechanism for selective inter-VRF reachability.
- ✗
All VRFs on a router must share the same global routing table.
Why it's wrong here
VRFs maintain separate routing and forwarding tables per instance, isolating traffic; they do not share one global routing table. It is tempting because a global table exists for the default routing instance, but each VRF holds its own table, which is the basis of VRF separation.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
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JA
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.