- A
SSH traffic exceeding 16000 bps is dropped.
Correct. The exceed-action is drop, so any SSH traffic above the conform rate is dropped.
- B
SSH traffic exceeding 16000 bps is still accepted because SSH is critical.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The policer enforces the rate; exceed-action drop means excess traffic is dropped.
- C
SSH traffic is not affected because the ACL uses 'permit' and the class-map uses 'match-all'.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The ACL permits SSH, and the class-map matches that ACL, so SSH is subject to the policer.
- D
SSH traffic exceeding 16000 bps is sent with a lower priority.
Why wrong: Incorrect. There is no priority queuing here; the policer drops excess traffic.
Question 1,998 of 2,152
What Happens to SSH Traffic Above CoPP Policer Rate?
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.
Examine this CoPP configuration:
ip access-list extended PROTECT-ACL permit tcp any any eq 22 permit tcp any any eq
23
permit tcp any any eq 179
! class-map match-all PROTECT-CLASS match access-group name PROTECT-ACL ! policy-map PROTECT-POLICY
class PROTECT-CLASS
police 16000 conform-action transmit exceed-action drop
class class-default
police 64000 conform-action transmit exceed-action drop ! control-plane service-policy input PROTECT-POLICY
What will happen to SSH traffic that exceeds 16000 bps?
Quick Answer
The answer is that SSH traffic exceeding 16000 bps is dropped. This occurs because the CoPP policer configured under the PROTECT-CLASS class-map applies a strict 16,000 bps conform rate, and any traffic that exceeds this rate is explicitly subjected to the exceed-action drop command. The ACL matches SSH (TCP port 22) along with Telnet and BGP, so all SSH packets are evaluated by this policer; once the traffic rate surpasses the configured threshold, the router immediately discards the excess packets rather than allowing them through. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Control Plane Policing (CoPP) interacts with class-maps and policers—a common trap is assuming that exceeding the rate might still permit some traffic or that the class-default policer would catch overflow, but the class-specific policer takes precedence for matched traffic. A helpful memory tip: "Exceed equals drop" for CoPP—if the rate is exceeded, the action is final, not a reclassification.
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
✓
SSH traffic exceeding 16000 bps is dropped.
The CoPP policy applies a police rate of 16000 bps to the PROTECT-CLASS class, which matches SSH traffic via the ACL. When SSH traffic exceeds this rate, the exceed-action is configured to drop, so any SSH packets beyond 16000 bps are discarded. This is standard CoPP behavior: the policer enforces the rate limit regardless of the protocol's importance.
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.
- ✓
SSH traffic exceeding 16000 bps is dropped.
Why this is correct
Correct. The exceed-action is drop, so any SSH traffic above the conform rate is dropped.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
SSH traffic exceeding 16000 bps is still accepted because SSH is critical.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The policer enforces the rate; exceed-action drop means excess traffic is dropped.
- ✗
SSH traffic is not affected because the ACL uses 'permit' and the class-map uses 'match-all'.
- ✗
SSH traffic exceeding 16000 bps is sent with a lower priority.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. There is no priority queuing here; the policer drops excess traffic.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that CoPP can prioritize or remark traffic instead of simply dropping it, leading candidates to choose 'lower priority' or 'still accepted' options, but the exceed-action explicitly defines the fate of excess traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CoPP uses a hierarchical policer in the control-plane context; the class-default policer (64000 bps) acts as a catch-all for unmatched traffic, but SSH matched by PROTECT-CLASS is subject to its own 16000 bps policer first. The 'police' command in CoPP is a single-rate two-color policer, meaning traffic either conforms (transmitted) or exceeds (dropped), with no remarking or priority queuing. In real-world scenarios, misconfiguring CoPP rates too low can drop critical management traffic like SSH, locking administrators out of the device.
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.
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: SSH traffic exceeding 16000 bps is dropped. — The CoPP policy applies a police rate of 16000 bps to the PROTECT-CLASS class, which matches SSH traffic via the ACL. When SSH traffic exceeds this rate, the exceed-action is configured to drop, so any SSH packets beyond 16000 bps are discarded. This is standard CoPP behavior: the policer enforces the rate limit regardless of the protocol's importance.
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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