- A
Informs require the NMS to send an acknowledgment back to the router.
Informs require the NMS to send an acknowledgment, making them reliable at the application layer.
- B
Traps are more reliable than informs because they use UDP with a higher priority.
Why wrong: Traps are not more reliable; they are unacknowledged. Inform requests are more reliable due to acknowledgment and retransmission.
- C
The default retransmission timeout for informs is 30 seconds.
The default retransmission timeout for SNMP informs is 30 seconds on Cisco devices.
- D
Informs and traps are mutually exclusive; a router can only send one type to a given NMS.
Why wrong: Informs and traps are not mutually exclusive; a router can be configured to send both types to different NMS hosts, or even both to the same host.
- E
Both informs and traps are enabled using the 'snmp-server enable traps' command.
Why wrong: This statement is incorrect. The 'snmp-server enable traps' command enables only traps. Informs require a separate configuration, such as 'snmp-server enable informs' or 'snmp-server host ... informs'.
SNMP Inform vs Trap: Key Differences
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of snmp troubleshooting. 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. A key principle to apply: sNMP Informs. 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.
Which TWO statements correctly describe the use of SNMP inform requests compared to traps? (Choose TWO.)
Quick Answer
The answer is that both informs and traps are enabled using the same `snmp-server enable traps` command, but informs are confirmed notifications while traps are unconfirmed. Informs require the Network Management Station (NMS) to send an acknowledgment; if none is received, the router retransmits the notification, making informs more reliable but also more resource-intensive in terms of memory and CPU due to retransmission handling. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this distinction tests your understanding of SNMP notification reliability versus efficiency—a common scenario asks you to choose which statements correctly describe informs versus traps, often highlighting that both are enabled with the same command but directed differently using the `informs` keyword in the `snmp-server host` command. A key memory tip: think of a trap as a “fire-and-forget” message, while an inform is a “send-and-verify” message—the extra “i” in inform stands for “I need a reply.”
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
Informs require the NMS to send an acknowledgment back to the router.
Option A is correct because SNMP inform requests require the NMS to send an acknowledgment (SNMPv2 InformResponse-PDU), making them reliable at the application layer. Option C is correct because the default retransmission timeout for SNMP informs is 30 seconds on Cisco devices. Option E is incorrect because the 'snmp-server enable traps' command only enables traps, not informs; informs require a separate configuration (e.g., 'snmp-server enable informs').
Key principle: SNMP Informs
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Informs require the NMS to send an acknowledgment back to the router.
Why this is correct
Informs require the NMS to send an acknowledgment, making them reliable at the application layer.
Related concept
SNMP Informs
- ✗
Traps are more reliable than informs because they use UDP with a higher priority.
Why it's wrong here
Traps are not more reliable; they are unacknowledged. Inform requests are more reliable due to acknowledgment and retransmission.
- ✓
The default retransmission timeout for informs is 30 seconds.
- ✗
Informs and traps are mutually exclusive; a router can only send one type to a given NMS.
Why it's wrong here
Informs and traps are not mutually exclusive; a router can be configured to send both types to different NMS hosts, or even both to the same host.
- ✗
Both informs and traps are enabled using the 'snmp-server enable traps' command.
Why it's wrong here
This statement is incorrect. The 'snmp-server enable traps' command enables only traps. Informs require a separate configuration, such as 'snmp-server enable informs' or 'snmp-server host ... informs'.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common pitfall is assuming that the 'snmp-server enable traps' command also enables informs, but it does not. Informs require an explicit separate configuration.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This statement is incorrect. The 'snmp-server enable traps' command enables only traps. Informs require a separate configuration, such as 'snmp-server enable informs' or 'snmp-server host ... informs'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, SNMPv2c and SNMPv3 define the InformRequest-PDU, which triggers an InformResponse-PDU from the NMS. The default retransmission timeout for informs is 45 seconds in many Cisco IOS versions, not 30 seconds (though some platforms may default to 30). In a real-world scenario, informs are preferred for critical alerts (e.g., link up/down) where delivery assurance is needed, but they consume more NMS resources due to acknowledgment processing and retransmission state.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- SNMP Informs
- SNMP Traps
- Default Retransmission Timeout
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
SNMP Informs
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. SNMP Informs Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review sNMP Informs, then practise related 300-410 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
SNMP Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
SNMP Troubleshooting practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 300-410 questions
2,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
300-410 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 300-410 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Layer 3 Technologies practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Layer 3 Technologies.
EIGRP Troubleshooting practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to EIGRP Troubleshooting.
OSPF Troubleshooting (v2/v3) practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to OSPF Troubleshooting (v2/v3).
BGP Troubleshooting practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to BGP Troubleshooting.
Route Redistribution practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Route Redistribution.
Policy-Based Routing (PBR) practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Policy-Based Routing (PBR).
VRF-Lite practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to VRF-Lite.
Route Maps and Route Filtering practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Route Maps and Route Filtering.
Administrative Distance practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Administrative Distance.
Route Summarization practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Route Summarization.
Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD).
VPN Technologies practice questions
Practise 300-410 questions linked to VPN Technologies.
Practice this exam
Start a free 300-410 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
SNMP Troubleshooting — This question tests SNMP Troubleshooting — SNMP Informs.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Informs require the NMS to send an acknowledgment back to the router. — Option A is correct because SNMP inform requests require the NMS to send an acknowledgment (SNMPv2 InformResponse-PDU), making them reliable at the application layer. Option C is correct because the default retransmission timeout for SNMP informs is 30 seconds on Cisco devices. Option E is incorrect because the 'snmp-server enable traps' command only enables traps, not informs; informs require a separate configuration (e.g., 'snmp-server enable informs').
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Review sNMP Informs, then practise related 300-410 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
SNMP Informs
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More 300-410 practice questions
- Drag and drop the steps to negotiate an IKEv2 IPsec site-to-site tunnel into the correct order, from first to last.
- Drag and drop the steps to troubleshoot an IPsec site-to-site VPN adjacency failure into the correct order, from first t…
- Drag and drop the steps to verify and validate the operational state of an IPsec site-to-site VPN into the correct order…
- Consider the following configuration snippet: ip cef ! interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.25…
- A router is configured with 'logging host 10.1.1.100' and 'logging trap informational'. The engineer notices that syslog…
- Drag and drop the steps to configure a GRE tunnel for IPv6 over IPv4 into the correct order, from first to last.
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 300-410 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 300-410 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.