- A
Apply the policy map to a physical interface using the 'service-policy input' command.
Why wrong: CoPP is applied to the control plane, not to physical interfaces.
- B
Create a policy map that defines a police action for the classified traffic.
A policy map with a 'police' command is required to specify the rate and action for CoPP.
- C
Create a class map to match the traffic that should be policed.
A class map defines the traffic classification criteria (e.g., match access-group) for CoPP.
- D
Configure a 'shape average' command in the policy map to limit traffic rate.
Why wrong: CoPP uses 'police' for rate-limiting, not 'shape'; shaping is for interface queues.
- E
Apply the policy map to the control plane using the 'service-policy input' command under the interface configuration mode.
Why wrong: The 'service-policy input' command is used under 'control-plane' configuration mode, not interface mode.
CoPP Configuration Steps — Class-Map and Policy-Map | Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 Explained
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of control plane policing (copp). The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 configuration steps are required to implement Control Plane Policing (CoPP) on a Cisco IOS-XE router? (Choose TWO.)
Quick Answer
The answer is creating a class map and creating a policy map. These two configuration steps form the mandatory building blocks for implementing Control Plane Policing (CoPP) on a Cisco IOS-XE router, because CoPP requires you to first classify the traffic you want to protect—such as routing protocols or management traffic—using a class map, and then define the policing action (typically the police command) within a policy map. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this question tests your understanding that CoPP is a control-plane security feature, not an interface-based QoS tool; a common trap is confusing the service-policy application step (which is applied under the control-plane configuration, not an interface) with the two foundational steps of class-map and policy-map creation. Remember the mnemonic “Classify, then Police” — you must build the class map to match traffic before you can build the policy map to enforce the rate limit.
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
Create a policy map that defines a police action for the classified traffic.
Option B is correct because a policy map is required to define the police action (e.g., 'police rate 10000 conform-action transmit exceed-action drop') that enforces rate limiting on the classified traffic. Without a policy map specifying the policing parameters, CoPP cannot apply any QoS action to the control plane traffic. Option C is correct because a class map is necessary to classify the specific traffic types (e.g., SSH, BGP, ICMP) that should be subjected to policing, using match statements based on access lists or protocol headers.
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.
- ✗
Apply the policy map to a physical interface using the 'service-policy input' command.
Why it's wrong here
CoPP is applied to the control plane, not to physical interfaces.
- ✓
Create a policy map that defines a police action for the classified traffic.
Why this is correct
A policy map with a 'police' command is required to specify the rate and action for CoPP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Create a class map to match the traffic that should be policed.
Why this is correct
A class map defines the traffic classification criteria (e.g., match access-group) for CoPP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure a 'shape average' command in the policy map to limit traffic rate.
Why it's wrong here
CoPP uses 'police' for rate-limiting, not 'shape'; shaping is for interface queues.
- ✗
Apply the policy map to the control plane using the 'service-policy input' command under the interface configuration mode.
Why it's wrong here
The 'service-policy input' command is used under 'control-plane' configuration mode, not interface mode.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between applying the policy map under 'control-plane' configuration mode versus under a physical interface, as candidates mistakenly use 'interface GigabitEthernet0/0' instead of 'control-plane' to attach the CoPP policy.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The 'service-policy input' command is used under 'control-plane' configuration mode, not interface mode.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CoPP leverages the Modular QoS CLI (MQC) framework to classify and police traffic destined to the route processor (RP). Under the hood, the policy map is attached to the control-plane interface, which is a virtual interface representing the RP's receive path; this allows the router to rate-limit control-plane packets (e.g., routing protocol hellos, SSH management) before they consume CPU cycles. In real-world scenarios, misapplying CoPP to a physical interface instead of the control plane can inadvertently drop data-plane traffic or fail to protect the RP from DoS attacks.
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 practitioner preparing for the 300-410 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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Create a policy map that defines a police action for the classified traffic. — Option B is correct because a policy map is required to define the police action (e.g., 'police rate 10000 conform-action transmit exceed-action drop') that enforces rate limiting on the classified traffic. Without a policy map specifying the policing parameters, CoPP cannot apply any QoS action to the control plane traffic. Option C is correct because a class map is necessary to classify the specific traffic types (e.g., SSH, BGP, ICMP) that should be subjected to policing, using match statements based on access lists or protocol headers.
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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