Question 279 of 2,152

Device Management →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

300-410 Device Management Practice Question

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of device management. 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.

An engineer is troubleshooting a router that is configured to archive configurations to a TFTP server at 192.168.1.10. The 'archive' configuration includes 'path tftp://192.168.1.10/config-archive' and 'write-memory'. The engineer notices that the archive is not being created after 'copy running-config startup-config'. What is the most likely cause?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

A
The TFTP server does not have write permissions for the directory.
TFTP servers often require a pre-existing file or write permissions; if the server cannot create the file, the archive fails silently.
B
The 'archive' configuration is missing the 'time-period' command.
Why wrong: The 'time-period' command is for periodic archiving, not for 'write-memory' triggered archiving.
C
The router's 'file prompt quiet' command is configured, suppressing error messages.
Why wrong: Even with 'file prompt quiet', errors would still be logged; the archive would still attempt to write.
D
The TFTP server's IP address is incorrect in the path.
Why wrong: The engineer can likely ping the server; if the IP were wrong, the archive would fail with a timeout, but the server being unreachable is less specific than write permissions.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

The TFTP server does not have write permissions for the directory.

The 'write-memory' command under the 'archive' configuration triggers an automatic archive of the running configuration to the specified TFTP server whenever 'copy running-config startup-config' is executed. If the TFTP server does not have write permissions for the target directory, the file transfer will fail silently or with an error, preventing the archive from being created. This is the most likely cause because the configuration syntax is correct, and the issue is on the server side.

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.

✓
The TFTP server does not have write permissions for the directory.
Why this is correct
TFTP servers often require a pre-existing file or write permissions; if the server cannot create the file, the archive fails silently.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The 'archive' configuration is missing the 'time-period' command.
Why it's wrong here
The 'time-period' command is for periodic archiving, not for 'write-memory' triggered archiving.
✗
The router's 'file prompt quiet' command is configured, suppressing error messages.
Why it's wrong here
Even with 'file prompt quiet', errors would still be logged; the archive would still attempt to write.
✗
The TFTP server's IP address is incorrect in the path.
Why it's wrong here
The engineer can likely ping the server; if the IP were wrong, the archive would fail with a timeout, but the server being unreachable is less specific than write permissions.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the distinction between archive triggers (write-memory vs. time-period) to see if candidates mistakenly think a missing time-period prevents all archiving, when in fact write-memory triggers archiving on config saves without needing a timer.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
The 'time-period' command is for periodic archiving, not for 'write-memory' triggered archiving.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol, RFC 1350) uses UDP port 69 and has no built-in authentication or directory listing; file transfer success depends entirely on the server's filesystem permissions. In real-world scenarios, TFTP servers often run in chroot jails or with restricted write access to prevent unauthorized file uploads, so a missing or read-only directory is a common misconfiguration. The 'write-memory' archive trigger relies on the EEM (Embedded Event Manager) applet that monitors the 'copy running-config startup-config' command, not on periodic timers.

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.

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?

Device Management — This question tests Device Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The TFTP server does not have write permissions for the directory. — The 'write-memory' command under the 'archive' configuration triggers an automatic archive of the running configuration to the specified TFTP server whenever 'copy running-config startup-config' is executed. If the TFTP server does not have write permissions for the target directory, the file transfer will fail silently or with an error, preventing the archive from being created. This is the most likely cause because the configuration syntax is correct, and the issue is on the server side.

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.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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