Question 1,742 of 2,152

Device Management →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Syslog Not Sending to Remote Server

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 not sending syslog messages to the syslog server at 192.168.1.10. The configuration includes 'logging host 192.168.1.10' and 'logging trap informational'. The engineer can ping the syslog server from the router. 'show logging' shows that the logging buffer is filling with messages. 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 syslog server is not listening on UDP port 514.
Why wrong: While possible, the more common router-side issue is the missing source-interface, which can cause the server to drop messages if the source IP is not expected.
B
The 'logging source-interface' command is missing, causing syslog messages to use an incorrect source IP.
Without 'logging source-interface', the router uses the IP of the egress interface, which may not be reachable from the syslog server or may be filtered.
C
The 'logging on' command is not configured.
Why wrong: 'logging on' is enabled by default; 'show logging' would indicate if it is disabled, and the buffer is filling, so logging is on.
D
The syslog server's IP address is incorrect in the configuration.
Why wrong: The engineer can ping the server, so the IP is reachable; the configuration shows the correct IP.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is a missing `logging source-interface` command. When a router sends syslog messages to a remote server, it uses the IP address of the outgoing interface as the source by default; if that interface’s IP is not routable to the server, or if the server’s access control list (ACL) only permits traffic from a specific management address, the messages are dropped even though the logging buffer continues to fill locally. This scenario is a classic trap on the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, testing your understanding that reachability (ping success) does not guarantee syslog delivery—the source IP must match what the server expects. A common memory tip is “ping works, syslog fails? Check the source-interface.”

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 'logging source-interface' command is missing, causing syslog messages to use an incorrect source IP.

The router can ping the syslog server and the logging buffer is filling, which confirms network reachability and that the router is generating syslog messages. However, without the 'logging source-interface' command, syslog packets use the IP address of the egress interface, which may not be reachable from the server (e.g., due to ACLs or routing asymmetry). This causes the server to drop the packets, even though the router can reach the server. The 'logging host' and 'logging trap informational' commands are correctly configured, so the issue lies in the source IP selection.

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 syslog server is not listening on UDP port 514.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the more common router-side issue is the missing source-interface, which can cause the server to drop messages if the source IP is not expected.
✓
The 'logging source-interface' command is missing, causing syslog messages to use an incorrect source IP.
Why this is correct
Without 'logging source-interface', the router uses the IP of the egress interface, which may not be reachable from the syslog server or may be filtered.
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 'logging on' command is not configured.
Why it's wrong here
'logging on' is enabled by default; 'show logging' would indicate if it is disabled, and the buffer is filling, so logging is on.
✗
The syslog server's IP address is incorrect in the configuration.
Why it's wrong here
The engineer can ping the server, so the IP is reachable; the configuration shows the correct IP.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the misconception that a successful ping implies full bidirectional communication, but syslog uses UDP and the server may drop packets if the source IP is unexpected or not reachable in the return path.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
'logging on' is enabled by default; 'show logging' would indicate if it is disabled, and the buffer is filling, so logging is on.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Syslog uses UDP port 514, and the source IP of the syslog packet is determined by the routing table unless 'logging source-interface' is configured. If the source IP is not routable back to the server (e.g., a private IP on a different subnet), the server may silently discard the packet. In real-world scenarios, this is common when multiple interfaces exist, and the egress interface's IP is not in the server's routing table or is blocked by a firewall. The 'show logging' output will show messages in the buffer but no messages sent to the server, which is a key diagnostic clue.

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?

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 'logging source-interface' command is missing, causing syslog messages to use an incorrect source IP. — The router can ping the syslog server and the logging buffer is filling, which confirms network reachability and that the router is generating syslog messages. However, without the 'logging source-interface' command, syslog packets use the IP address of the egress interface, which may not be reachable from the server (e.g., due to ACLs or routing asymmetry). This causes the server to drop the packets, even though the router can reach the server. The 'logging host' and 'logging trap informational' commands are correctly configured, so the issue lies in the source IP selection.

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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