mediumMultiple Choice
350-401 Practice Question: Consider the following configuration on a Cisco…
Consider the following configuration on a Cisco 9800 WLC:
ap join-profile default-join-profile
description "Default Join Profile"
controller 1 primary 10.1.1.1 controller 2 secondary 10.1.1.2
What is the purpose of this configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between AP join profiles (which control controller priority) and AP-specific or RF profiles (which control radio parameters), leading candidates to confuse the purpose of the join profile with radio configuration.
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
✓
It specifies the WLCs that the AP should attempt to join in order of priority.
This configuration defines the primary and secondary controller IP addresses within an AP join profile on a Cisco 9800 WLC. The AP uses these addresses to prioritize which WLC to join via CAPWAP discovery, attempting the primary controller first and falling back to the secondary if the primary is unreachable. Option B correctly identifies this as specifying the WLCs in order of priority.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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It configures the AP's management IP address.
Why it's wrong here
The AP's management IP address is a Layer 3 addressing attribute used for CAPWAP control plane communication, but it is not configured by this WLC priority command. In a typical deployment, the AP obtains its management IP address via DHCP, or through static assignment during its initial setup. This command is specifically for defining the preferential WLC list, not for IP addressing.
- ✓
It specifies the WLCs that the AP should attempt to join in order of priority.
Why this is correct
This command specifies the WLCs that the AP should attempt to join in order of priority. It uses the primary and secondary keywords to set the order of preferred controllers, ensuring that the AP attempts to join its intended WLC first before falling back to other options. This is crucial for load balancing and for ensuring that the AP is managed by the correct controller in a multi-WLC environment.
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It enables CAPWAP DTLS encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Enabling CAPWAP DTLS encryption is a separate security configuration that is performed globally on both the WLC and the AP, or on a per-AP basis via specific commands like "capwap ap dtls" or in the AP join profile. The priority list command does not modify DTLS settings; DTLS is related to the integrity and confidentiality of CAPWAP messages, not to the join priority.
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It defines the AP's radio parameters.
Why it's wrong here
Radio parameters such as channel assignment, transmit power, and band selection are defined through RF profiles and per-radio configurations on the WLC, and are applied to the AP after it joins. The WLC priority command is solely concerned with the controller discovery and join order, not with the RF characteristics of the AP.
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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.