Question 2,149 of 2,152

Network Logging and Syslog →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Syslog Not Sending Messages Due to Incorrect Source Interface

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of network logging and syslog. 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 remote server at 192.168.1.10. The configuration includes 'logging host 192.168.1.10' and 'logging trap 7'. The router can ping 192.168.1.10. The engineer runs 'show logging' and sees 'Syslog logging: enabled (0 messages dropped, 0 messages rate-limited, 0 flushes, 0 overruns)'. 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 'logging source-interface' is configured to an interface that is administratively down.
Correct because if the source interface is down, the router cannot use its IP address, and the syslog server may drop messages from an unexpected source IP or the packets may be routed incorrectly.
B
The 'logging on' command is missing from the configuration.
Why wrong: Incorrect because 'show logging' indicates syslog is enabled; if 'logging on' were missing, it would show 'logging disabled'.
C
The syslog server is using TCP, but the router is configured for UDP.
Why wrong: Incorrect because by default, the router uses UDP; if the server expects TCP, the router would still send UDP packets, but the server would not receive them. However, the 'show logging' output would still show messages as sent (no drops), so this is less likely than a source-interface issue.
D
The logging buffer is full, preventing new messages from being generated.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the buffer being full does not stop the router from sending messages; it only affects local storage.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is a misconfigured logging source-interface set to an interface that is administratively down. When the logging source-interface command specifies a disabled interface, the router cannot bind syslog packets to that source IP, causing the remote server to either drop the messages due to source-address filtering or the packets to be unroutable. This explains why the router can ping the server (using a different, reachable interface) yet no syslog messages are sent, even though logging is enabled and no messages are dropped locally. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of syslog operation and the critical role of source-interface selection—a common trap is assuming a successful ping guarantees syslog delivery. Remember the memory tip: “If syslog is silent but pings are loud, check the source-interface shroud.”

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' is configured to an interface that is administratively down.

The 'show logging' output shows that syslog is enabled but no messages are being sent. A common reason is that the 'logging source-interface' is set to an interface that is down or not reachable, causing the router to use an incorrect source IP that the server may filter or that routing may not support. Alternatively, the server may be configured to accept messages only from specific source IPs.

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 'logging source-interface' is configured to an interface that is administratively down.
Why this is correct
Correct because if the source interface is down, the router cannot use its IP address, and the syslog server may drop messages from an unexpected source IP or the packets may be routed incorrectly.
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 missing from the configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because 'show logging' indicates syslog is enabled; if 'logging on' were missing, it would show 'logging disabled'.
✗
The syslog server is using TCP, but the router is configured for UDP.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because by default, the router uses UDP; if the server expects TCP, the router would still send UDP packets, but the server would not receive them. However, the 'show logging' output would still show messages as sent (no drops), so this is less likely than a source-interface issue.
✗
The logging buffer is full, preventing new messages from being generated.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the buffer being full does not stop the router from sending messages; it only affects local storage.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
Incorrect because 'show logging' indicates syslog is enabled; if 'logging on' were missing, it would show 'logging disabled'.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

Underline the problem statement mentally.
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 300-410 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 300-410 question test?

Network Logging and Syslog — This question tests Network Logging and Syslog — 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' is configured to an interface that is administratively down. — The 'show logging' output shows that syslog is enabled but no messages are being sent. A common reason is that the 'logging source-interface' is set to an interface that is down or not reachable, causing the router to use an incorrect source IP that the server may filter or that routing may not support. Alternatively, the server may be configured to accept messages only from specific source IPs.

What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?

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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