- A
In an SSO pair, the standby WLC maintains synchronized client and AP state information via a dedicated link.
Correct because SSO uses a dedicated redundancy link to keep the standby WLC fully synchronized with the active WLC.
- B
SSO requires both WLCs to be connected to the same Layer 2 network for the redundant management interface.
Correct because the redundant management interface must be on the same subnet to allow seamless failover.
- C
During a failover event, all client sessions are dropped and must re-associate with the new active WLC.
Why wrong: Incorrect because SSO provides stateful failover; client sessions are preserved without requiring re-association.
- D
SSO can be configured between any two WLC models regardless of hardware platform.
Why wrong: Incorrect because both WLCs must be from the same platform family (e.g., both 9800-40 or both 9800-80) to support SSO.
- E
SSO supports only a single AP per WLC pair.
Why wrong: Incorrect because SSO supports the full AP capacity of the active WLC; the standby mirrors the same capacity.
Quick Answer
The answer is that SSO requires both WLCs to be connected to the same Layer 2 network for the redundant management interface. This is correct because Cisco WLC high availability uses an active/standby pair with stateful failover, where the standby controller maintains a fully synchronized copy of client and AP session state. To achieve this synchronization, the two controllers must share a common Layer 2 subnet for their redundant management interfaces, allowing seamless state replication and rapid failover without client reauthentication. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept tests your understanding of high-availability design versus simple AP failover; a common trap is assuming SSO requires identical hardware models, but Cisco only requires the same platform family. Remember the key distinction: SSO is stateful and Layer 2 dependent, while AP failover is stateless and Layer 3 independent. A helpful mnemonic is “SSO syncs state on the same subnet.”
350-401 Wireless Infrastructure Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of wireless infrastructure. 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 statements about Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) high availability (SSO) 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
In an SSO pair, the standby WLC maintains synchronized client and AP state information via a dedicated link.
SSO uses a pair of WLCs in active/standby mode with stateful failover. The standby maintains synchronized client and AP state. A Layer 2 link is required between the two WLCs for the redundant management interface. SSO does not require identical hardware models, but they must be from the same platform family.
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.
- ✓
In an SSO pair, the standby WLC maintains synchronized client and AP state information via a dedicated link.
Why this is correct
Correct because SSO uses a dedicated redundancy link to keep the standby WLC fully synchronized with the active WLC.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
SSO requires both WLCs to be connected to the same Layer 2 network for the redundant management interface.
Why this is correct
Correct because the redundant management interface must be on the same subnet to allow seamless failover.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
During a failover event, all client sessions are dropped and must re-associate with the new active WLC.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because SSO provides stateful failover; client sessions are preserved without requiring re-association.
- ✗
SSO can be configured between any two WLC models regardless of hardware platform.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because both WLCs must be from the same platform family (e.g., both 9800-40 or both 9800-80) to support SSO.
- ✗
SSO supports only a single AP per WLC pair.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because SSO supports the full AP capacity of the active WLC; the standby mirrors the same capacity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
Wireless Infrastructure — This question tests Wireless Infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: In an SSO pair, the standby WLC maintains synchronized client and AP state information via a dedicated link. — SSO uses a pair of WLCs in active/standby mode with stateful failover. The standby maintains synchronized client and AP state. A Layer 2 link is required between the two WLCs for the redundant management interface. SSO does not require identical hardware models, but they must be from the same platform family.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 350-401
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An engineer is configuring a Cisco 9800 WLC for high availability using a pair of WLCs in an active/standby configuration. The engineer configures the same SSID and security settings on both WLCs. However, when the active WLC fails, clients that were connected to the active WLC do not automatically reconnect to the standby WLC. What is the most likely cause?
medium- ✓ A.The APs are not configured with the standby WLC's IP address as a backup controller.
- B.Clients must be configured to roam between WLCs, which is not supported in active/standby mode.
- C.The SSID name must be different on the standby WLC to avoid conflicts.
- D.The APs must be rebooted after the active WLC fails to recognize the standby WLC.
Why A: The correct answer is that the APs are not configured to use the standby WLC as a backup. In a high availability setup, APs must be configured with both primary and secondary WLC IP addresses. The other options are incorrect: client roaming is not required for failover, SSID names can be the same, and APs do not need to be rebooted after failover if properly configured.
Variation 2. 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?
medium- A.It configures the AP's management IP address.
- ✓ B.It specifies the WLCs that the AP should attempt to join in order of priority.
- C.It enables CAPWAP DTLS encryption.
- D.It defines the AP's radio parameters.
Why B: Join profiles define how APs discover and connect to WLCs, including primary and secondary controller IP addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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