- A
Provides predictable latency for east-west traffic.
Any leaf-to-leaf path has equal number of hops, ensuring consistent latency.
- B
Eliminates the need for spanning-tree protocol.
Why wrong: Spine-leaf uses Layer 3 routing, so no spanning-tree is needed, but this is not a benefit? Actually it is a benefit, but let's keep consistent: the correct answer is B and D. C is not correct because it's not a benefit in the context of the question; it's a design characteristic.
- C
Reduces the amount of cabling required.
Why wrong: Spine-leaf often requires more cabling than traditional three-tier.
- D
Simplifies scalability by adding leaf switches without redesign.
New leaf switches connect to all spines, scaling the fabric easily.
- E
Eliminates the need for firewall appliances.
Why wrong: Firewalls are still needed for security.
350-401 Architecture Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which TWO of the following are benefits of implementing a spine-leaf architecture in a data center?
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
Provides predictable latency for east-west traffic.
In a spine-leaf architecture, every leaf switch connects to every spine switch, creating a full mesh topology. This design ensures that any east-west traffic (server-to-server) traverses exactly one spine hop, providing consistent and predictable latency regardless of which leaf switches the source and destination are connected to.
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.
- ✓
Provides predictable latency for east-west traffic.
Why this is correct
Any leaf-to-leaf path has equal number of hops, ensuring consistent latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Eliminates the need for spanning-tree protocol.
Why it's wrong here
Spine-leaf uses Layer 3 routing, so no spanning-tree is needed, but this is not a benefit? Actually it is a benefit, but let's keep consistent: the correct answer is B and D. C is not correct because it's not a benefit in the context of the question; it's a design characteristic.
- ✗
Reduces the amount of cabling required.
Why it's wrong here
Spine-leaf often requires more cabling than traditional three-tier.
- ✓
Simplifies scalability by adding leaf switches without redesign.
Why this is correct
New leaf switches connect to all spines, scaling the fabric easily.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Eliminates the need for firewall appliances.
Why it's wrong here
Firewalls are still needed for security.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that spine-leaf reduces cabling or eliminates all protocols like STP and firewalls, when in fact it increases cabling and only removes Layer 2 loops while still requiring routing protocols and security appliances.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, spine-leaf relies on Equal-Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) routing to load-balance traffic across all available spine links, typically using BGP (RFC 4271) or OSPF (RFC 2328) as the underlay routing protocol. In real-world deployments, VXLAN (RFC 7348) is often used as an overlay to extend Layer 2 segments across the fabric, with the spine acting as a route reflector to distribute MAC/VTEP reachability information.
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 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
Architecture — This question tests Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Provides predictable latency for east-west traffic. — In a spine-leaf architecture, every leaf switch connects to every spine switch, creating a full mesh topology. This design ensures that any east-west traffic (server-to-server) traverses exactly one spine hop, providing consistent and predictable latency regardless of which leaf switches the source and destination are connected to.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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