Question 1,307 of 2,152
Control Plane Policing (CoPP)hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

CoPP MQC Policy Application

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of control plane policing (copp). Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 correctly describe the behavior of Control Plane Policing (CoPP) when applied to a Cisco IOS router? (Choose TWO.)

Quick Answer

The correct answer is that CoPP can be applied to the aggregate control plane or separately to the IPv4, IPv6, and MPLS control plane subinterfaces. This is because Control Plane Policing uses Modular QoS CLI (MQC) to classify and rate-limit traffic destined to the router’s control plane, which is treated as a distinct logical entity. The `service-policy input` command is applied under the `control-plane` configuration, and you can target the aggregate plane or specific subinterfaces for granular protection. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this question tests your understanding that CoPP only polices traffic destined to the control plane itself—it does not affect process-switched traffic that is forwarded through the router. A common trap is assuming CoPP polices all traffic passing through the router, but it strictly protects the control plane from excessive CPU load. Memory tip: think "CoPP protects the brain, not the body"—it only polices traffic heading to the router’s CPU, not transit traffic.

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

CoPP policies are applied using the Modular QoS CLI (MQC) and can be attached to the control-plane interface with the 'service-policy input' command.

Option A is correct because CoPP uses the Modular QoS CLI (MQC) framework, where a policy-map is created with class-maps and actions, and then applied to the control-plane interface using the 'service-policy input' command. This attaches the policy to the control plane, filtering traffic destined to the router's CPU before it is process-switched.

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.

  • CoPP policies are applied using the Modular QoS CLI (MQC) and can be attached to the control-plane interface with the 'service-policy input' command.

    Why this is correct

    Correct. CoPP uses MQC class-maps and policy-maps, and is applied under the control-plane configuration with 'service-policy input'.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • CoPP can be applied to the aggregate control plane or separately to the IPv4, IPv6, and MPLS control plane subinterfaces.

    Why this is correct

    Correct. Cisco IOS supports applying CoPP to the aggregate control plane (control-plane) or to specific subinterfaces like control-plane [host | transit | cef-exception].

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • CoPP policies are applied using the 'policy-map' command under the interface configuration mode for each physical interface.

    Why it's wrong here

    Incorrect. CoPP is applied globally under the control-plane configuration, not per physical interface.

  • CoPP polices all traffic that enters the router, including traffic that is process-switched after being forwarded.

    Why it's wrong here

    Incorrect. CoPP only polices traffic destined to the control plane, not transit traffic or traffic that is process-switched after forwarding.

  • CoPP uses the 'class-map' command to match traffic based on ACLs, NBAR, or DSCP values, and the 'police' command to enforce rate limits.

    Why it's wrong here

    Incorrect. While CoPP does use class-maps and the police action, the statement is too generic and omits that CoPP specifically targets control plane traffic; the description is accurate for any MQC policy, but the question asks about CoPP behavior specifically.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the distinction between CoPP applying to the control plane (CPU-bound traffic) versus applying to all traffic entering the router, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think CoPP polices all forwarded traffic, when it only polices traffic destined to the control plane.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

CoPP operates by intercepting packets destined for the route processor (RP) before they reach the control plane process. It uses MQC to classify traffic into classes (e.g., routing protocols, management traffic) and applies actions like policing or dropping. A real-world scenario is protecting a router from a DoS attack by rate-limiting ICMP or SSH traffic to the CPU, while allowing OSPF or BGP keepalives to pass through without delay.

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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.

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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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 300-410 question test?

Control Plane Policing (CoPP) — This question tests Control Plane Policing (CoPP) — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: CoPP policies are applied using the Modular QoS CLI (MQC) and can be attached to the control-plane interface with the 'service-policy input' command. — Option A is correct because CoPP uses the Modular QoS CLI (MQC) framework, where a policy-map is created with class-maps and actions, and then applied to the control-plane interface using the 'service-policy input' command. This attaches the policy to the control plane, filtering traffic destined to the router's CPU before it is process-switched.

What should I do if I get this 300-410 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: Jul 4, 2026

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This 300-410 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 300-410 exam.