Question 1,269 of 2,152

SNMP Troubleshooting →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Link Up/Down SNMP Traps Not Enabled: Combined Syntax Issue

This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of snmp troubleshooting. 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 why the NMS is not receiving SNMP traps for interface up/down events on router R4. The configuration includes 'snmp-server enable traps snmp linkdown linkup' and 'snmp-server host 10.1.1.200 version 2c public'. The NMS can receive other traps from R4. 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 engineer combined 'linkdown' and 'linkup' in a single command; they must be configured as separate 'snmp-server enable traps' commands.
Correct because the IOS syntax requires separate commands for each trap type; combining them is invalid.
B
The NMS is configured to filter out link up/down traps, so they are not displayed.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the NMS receives other traps, indicating the issue is on the router side.
C
The router needs the 'snmp-server trap-source' command to specify the loopback interface for traps.
Why wrong: Incorrect because other traps are received, so trap-source is not the issue.
D
The 'snmp-server host' command must include the 'udp-port' option to specify port 162.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the default UDP port for traps is 162, so that is not required.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is that the engineer incorrectly combined 'linkdown' and 'linkup' in a single 'snmp-server enable traps snmp' command, which the Cisco IOS does not recognize as valid syntax. This is because the 'snmp-server enable traps' command requires each trap type to be enabled individually; when multiple keywords are strung together on one line, the router ignores the entire string, leaving link up/down SNMP traps not enabled despite the command being present. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of SNMP trap configuration nuances, often appearing as a trick where other traps work but interface-specific traps fail. A common memory tip is to treat each trap as its own separate activation—think of it as "one trap, one command"—so you never combine 'linkdown' and 'linkup' into a single line.

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 engineer combined 'linkdown' and 'linkup' in a single command; they must be configured as separate 'snmp-server enable traps' commands.

Option A is correct because Cisco IOS requires that 'linkdown' and 'linkup' be configured in separate 'snmp-server enable traps' commands when using the 'snmp-server enable traps snmp' syntax. Combining them in a single command is syntactically invalid; the router will not enable either trap type, which explains why the NMS receives other traps but not link up/down events.

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 engineer combined 'linkdown' and 'linkup' in a single command; they must be configured as separate 'snmp-server enable traps' commands.
Why this is correct
Correct because the IOS syntax requires separate commands for each trap type; combining them is invalid.
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 NMS is configured to filter out link up/down traps, so they are not displayed.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the NMS receives other traps, indicating the issue is on the router side.
✗
The router needs the 'snmp-server trap-source' command to specify the loopback interface for traps.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because other traps are received, so trap-source is not the issue.
✗
The 'snmp-server host' command must include the 'udp-port' option to specify port 162.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the default UDP port for traps is 162, so that is not required.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the misconception that multiple trap keywords can be combined in a single 'snmp-server enable traps' command, when in fact each specific trap (like 'linkdown' and 'linkup') requires its own separate command to be enabled.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Cisco IOS SNMP trap configuration uses a hierarchical enable structure: 'snmp-server enable traps <trap-type>' must be issued separately for each specific trap (e.g., 'snmp-server enable traps snmp linkdown' and 'snmp-server enable traps snmp linkup'). The combined syntax 'snmp-server enable traps snmp linkdown linkup' is not recognized by the parser, causing the router to silently ignore the command or fail to enable the traps. In real-world scenarios, this often leads to missing critical interface state notifications, and engineers may waste time checking NMS filters or reachability instead of the router's trap enable list.

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?

SNMP Troubleshooting — This question tests SNMP Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The engineer combined 'linkdown' and 'linkup' in a single command; they must be configured as separate 'snmp-server enable traps' commands. — Option A is correct because Cisco IOS requires that 'linkdown' and 'linkup' be configured in separate 'snmp-server enable traps' commands when using the 'snmp-server enable traps snmp' syntax. Combining them in a single command is syntactically invalid; the router will not enable either trap type, which explains why the NMS receives other traps but not link up/down events.

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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