Question 680 of 2,152
Control Plane Policing (CoPP)easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

CoPP Default Policy

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of control plane policing (copp). This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.

What is the default CoPP policy on a Cisco IOS-XE router if no service-policy is applied to the control-plane?

Quick Answer

The answer is that no CoPP default policy exists on a Cisco IOS-XE router; if no service-policy is applied to the control-plane, all control-plane traffic is processed without any rate-limiting. This is because Control Plane Policing is an explicit security feature that must be manually configured—the router’s control plane, by default, trusts all incoming traffic and handles it with its normal processing priority. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this concept tests your understanding that CoPP is not automatically enabled; a common trap is assuming a default policy exists or that the control-plane has inherent rate-limiting. Instead, remember that without a configured policy, the control plane is wide open, which is why CoPP is often deployed to protect against DoS attacks. A helpful memory tip: “No policy, no policing—CoPP is always a choice, never a default.”

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

No CoPP policy is applied; all control-plane traffic is processed without rate-limiting.

C is correct because Cisco IOS-XE routers do not apply any default CoPP policy to the control-plane. Without an explicit 'service-policy' configuration under the 'control-plane' configuration mode, all control-plane traffic (including routing protocols, management traffic, and keepalives) is processed by the route processor without any rate-limiting or filtering. CoPP is an optional feature that must be manually configured to protect the control plane from excessive traffic.

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.

  • All control-plane traffic is rate-limited to 64000 bps.

    Why it's wrong here

    Incorrect. No default policer exists.

  • Only management traffic (SSH, Telnet) is rate-limited to 32000 bps.

    Why it's wrong here

    Incorrect. No default CoPP policy is applied.

  • No CoPP policy is applied; all control-plane traffic is processed without rate-limiting.

    Why this is correct

    Correct. CoPP is not enabled by default.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • A default policy is applied that drops all traffic exceeding 128000 bps.

    Why it's wrong here

    Incorrect. There is no default CoPP policy.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the misconception that CoPP has a built-in default policy or that management traffic is automatically rate-limited, when in fact no CoPP policy is applied unless explicitly configured under the control-plane with a service-policy.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, the control-plane is a separate logical entity on the route processor (RP) that handles punted traffic from the forwarding plane. CoPP uses MQC (Modular QoS CLI) to classify and police traffic destined to the RP. A common real-world scenario is that an engineer might assume a default CoPP policy exists and skip configuration, leaving the router vulnerable to control-plane overload from a DoS attack or misconfigured network device sending excessive routing updates.

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

Source Router + ACL permit 10.0.0.0/8 deny any Server 10.0.0.5 ✓ 192.168.1.1 ✗ dropped ACLs evaluate top-down; first match wins — implicit deny all at end

Quick reference

Routing Protocol Comparison

ProtocolMetricMax HopsAlgorithmType
RIP v2Hop count15Bellman-FordDistance vector
OSPFCost (bandwidth)UnlimitedDijkstra (SPF)Link state
EIGRPComposite metricUnlimitedDUALHybrid
IS-ISCostUnlimitedDijkstraLink state
BGPPolicy / attributesUnlimitedPath vectorPath vector

RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.

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: No CoPP policy is applied; all control-plane traffic is processed without rate-limiting. — C is correct because Cisco IOS-XE routers do not apply any default CoPP policy to the control-plane. Without an explicit 'service-policy' configuration under the 'control-plane' configuration mode, all control-plane traffic (including routing protocols, management traffic, and keepalives) is processed by the route processor without any rate-limiting or filtering. CoPP is an optional feature that must be manually configured to protect the control plane from excessive traffic.

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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