- A
There is no access list to restrict SNMP access.
Without an ACL, any host can query the device using these community strings, which is a security concern.
- B
The community strings must be at least 8 characters.
Why wrong: There is no such requirement.
- C
Only one read-write community is allowed.
Why wrong: Multiple read-write communities are permitted.
- D
The 'public' community should be read-write.
Why wrong: It is common to have a read-only 'public' community.
Question 986 of 2,152
SNMPv2c Community Configuration — Common Mistakes
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. 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.
snmp-server community public RO\nsnmp-server community private RW\nsnmp-server community secret RW
What is wrong with this configuration?
Quick Answer
The answer is that the configuration lacks any access list to restrict SNMP access, which is the primary mistake. While having multiple read-write communities like "private" and "secret" is technically allowed, it introduces unnecessary security risk; however, the critical flaw is that without an access list applied to any of the snmp-server community statements, SNMPv2c traffic is accepted from any source IP address. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this tests your understanding that SNMPv2c community strings are essentially passwords sent in plaintext, and without ACL-based source filtering, the device is exposed to unauthorized read or write operations from the entire network. A common trap is focusing only on the duplication of RW communities and missing the missing ACL, so always check for the access-list keyword after the community string. Memory tip: “No ACL, no control — SNMP is open to all.”
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
✓
There is no access list to restrict SNMP access.
Option A is correct because the configuration lacks an access control list (ACL) to restrict which SNMP managers can use the community strings. Without an ACL, any device that can reach the router can query or modify the SNMP agent using the 'public' or 'private' strings, creating a severe security vulnerability. Cisco SNMP best practices mandate that each community string should be paired with an ACL to limit source IP addresses.
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.
- ✓
There is no access list to restrict SNMP access.
Why this is correct
Without an ACL, any host can query the device using these community strings, which is a security concern.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The community strings must be at least 8 characters.
Why it's wrong here
There is no such requirement.
- ✗
Only one read-write community is allowed.
Why it's wrong here
Multiple read-write communities are permitted.
- ✗
The 'public' community should be read-write.
Why it's wrong here
It is common to have a read-only 'public' community.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that multiple RW communities are invalid or that community strings have a minimum length, when the real issue is the missing ACL to enforce source-based security.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SNMPv2c and SNMPv1 use community strings as plain-text passwords; without an ACL, the router trusts any source IP that presents the correct string. In production, an ACL like 'access-list 10 permit host 192.168.1.100' should be applied with 'snmp-server community public RO 10' to restrict access. Cisco also supports SNMPv3 with cryptographic authentication and encryption, which eliminates the need for community strings entirely.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: There is no access list to restrict SNMP access. — Option A is correct because the configuration lacks an access control list (ACL) to restrict which SNMP managers can use the community strings. Without an ACL, any device that can reach the router can query or modify the SNMP agent using the 'public' or 'private' strings, creating a severe security vulnerability. Cisco SNMP best practices mandate that each community string should be paired with an ACL to limit source IP addresses.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 300-410
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. snmp-server community public RO\nsnmp-server community private RW\nsnmp-server location DataCenter\nsnmp-server contact admin@example.com What is the effect of this configuration?
medium- A.SNMPv3 is enabled with authentication.
- ✓ B.SNMPv2c is enabled with read-only community 'public' and read-write community 'private'.
- C.Only read-only access is allowed using the 'private' community.
- D.SNMP traps are enabled to the location DataCenter.
Why B: The configuration uses SNMPv2c community strings 'public' (read-only) and 'private' (read-write), which are plain-text authentication mechanisms. SNMPv2c is enabled by default when community strings are configured, and the 'RO' and 'RW' keywords explicitly define the access levels. This matches option B exactly.
Variation 2. snmp-server community MyCommunity RO 10\naccess-list 10 permit 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.255 What is the effect of this configuration?
medium- ✓ A.SNMP read-only access is allowed only from the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet.
- B.SNMP read-write access is allowed from any host.
- C.SNMP access is allowed from any host, but only read-only.
- D.The community string is encrypted in the configuration.
Why A: The configuration `snmp-server community MyCommunity RO 10` sets the community string to 'MyCommunity' with read-only (RO) privileges and applies access-list 10. The `access-list 10 permit 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.255` restricts SNMP access to only the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet. Therefore, only hosts in that subnet can query the SNMP agent with read-only access.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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