Cisco CCNP Certification Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is the maximum number of access-layer switches that can connect to a single distribution-layer switch?

Limited only by the number of ports on the distribution-layer switch (Correct answer)
1
2
Unlimited
Limited only by the number of ports on the access-layer switch

Correct answer: Limited only by the number of ports on the distribution-layer switch

Explanation: The correct answer is "Limited only by the number of ports on the distribution-layer switch." This means that the maximum number of access-layer switches that can connect to a single distribution-layer switch is determined by the number of available ports on the distribution-layer switch. As long as there are enough ports on the distribution-layer switch, there is no specific limit to the number of access-layer switches that can be connected.

Question 2: What is the primary objective of virtualization in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

To limit access to the profession
To ensure competence and proficiency in core virtualization concepts (Correct answer)
To generate revenue for testing organizations
To replace practical experience entirely

Correct answer: To ensure competence and proficiency in core virtualization concepts

The primary objective of virtualization knowledge is to ensure practitioners have the competence and proficiency needed to perform effectively and safely in their professional roles.

Question 3: What is the purpose of access controls in Cisco Certified Network Professional wireless networking?

To track employee lunch breaks
To ensure only authorized users can view or modify sensitive data and systems (Correct answer)
To reduce the number of system users
To make systems slower and less convenient

Correct answer: To ensure only authorized users can view or modify sensitive data and systems

Access controls restrict system and data access to authorized personnel, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized viewing, modification, or deletion.

Question 4: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what is the purpose of an audit trail in information systems?

To increase system processing speed
To reduce storage requirements
To maintain a chronological record of system activities and changes (Correct answer)
To track employee personal social media usage

Correct answer: To maintain a chronological record of system activities and changes

An audit trail creates a chronological record of all system activities, including who accessed the system, what changes were made, and when, supporting accountability and compliance.

Question 5: What is the purpose of 6to4 tunneling in IPv6 transition?

Provides a stateful NAT translation between IPv6 and IPv4 addresses
Encapsulates IPv6 packets inside IPv4 packets to traverse IPv4-only networks using the 2002::/16 prefix (Correct answer)
Tunnels IPv4 traffic inside IPv6 packets for reverse compatibility
Assigns IPv4-compatible IPv6 addresses to dual-stack hosts

Correct answer: Encapsulates IPv6 packets inside IPv4 packets to traverse IPv4-only networks using the 2002::/16 prefix

6to4 automatically embeds the IPv4 address into a 2002::/16 IPv6 prefix, allowing isolated IPv6 sites to communicate over an IPv4 backbone without manual tunnel configuration.

Question 6: What is a VLAN primarily used for?

To segment a broadcast domain (Correct answer)
To segment a collision domain
To segment an autonomous system
To segment a spanning-tree domain

Correct answer: To segment a broadcast domain

Explanation: A VLAN, or Virtual Local Area Network, is primarily used to segment a broadcast domain. By dividing a network into multiple VLANs, broadcast traffic is contained within each VLAN, reducing unnecessary network congestion and improving network performance. This segmentation allows for better control over network traffic and enhances security by isolating different groups of devices or users. Additionally, VLANs enable easier management and configuration of network resources, as they can be logically grouped together based on specific requirements or organizational structures.

Question 7: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what role does continuing education play in quality of service?

To replace initial certification requirements
To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices (Correct answer)
To prevent professionals from advancing in their careers
To increase testing frequency for compliance purposes

Correct answer: To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuing education ensures professionals stay current with new developments, evolving standards, and emerging best practices in their field, maintaining competence throughout their careers.

Question 8: What is the total length of an IPv6 address?

64 bits
256 bits
32 bits
128 bits (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 128 bits

IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long, written as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons.

Question 9: What IPv6 protocol replaces ARP for address resolution?

Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC)
ICMPv6 Router Advertisement
DHCPv6
Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP)

NDP uses ICMPv6 Neighbor Solicitation and Neighbor Advertisement messages to resolve IPv6 addresses to MAC addresses, replacing ARP.

Question 10: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what is the purpose of an audit trail in information systems?

To maintain a chronological record of system activities and changes (Correct answer)
To track employee personal social media usage
To increase system processing speed
To reduce storage requirements

Correct answer: To maintain a chronological record of system activities and changes

An audit trail creates a chronological record of all system activities, including who accessed the system, what changes were made, and when, supporting accountability and compliance.

Question 11: What is Auto-RP and what problem does it solve in PIM-SM networks?

An IETF standard for RP failover using redundant RP pairs
A protocol that selects the RP based on the highest IP address among all routers
A feature that automatically tunes PIM hello intervals based on network topology
A Cisco-proprietary mechanism that dynamically announces and discovers RP information, eliminating static RP configuration (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A Cisco-proprietary mechanism that dynamically announces and discovers RP information, eliminating static RP configuration

Auto-RP uses Candidate-RP announcements sent to 224.0.1.39 and RP-Discovery messages at 224.0.1.40 to dynamically distribute RP information across the network.

Question 12: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, why is infrastructure services knowledge important for professional certification?

It has no practical relevance to daily work
It is only required for administrative purposes
It is important only for entry-level positions
It demonstrates competence and ensures practitioners meet established standards (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It demonstrates competence and ensures practitioners meet established standards

Professional certification in specific knowledge areas demonstrates that practitioners have met established competency standards, ensuring quality of service and public protection.

Question 13: In a properly designed hierarchical network, a broadcast from one PC is confined to what?

One access-layer switch port
The entire campus network
One access-layer switch
One switch block (Correct answer)

Correct answer: One switch block

Explanation: In a properly designed hierarchical network, a broadcast from one PC is confined to one switch block. This means that the broadcast traffic is limited to the specific area or segment of the network where the PC and the corresponding switch block are located. It does not propagate to the entire campus network, which helps to minimize network congestion and improve overall network performance.

Question 14: What is the maximum number of vPC member ports (vPC IDs) supported in a single vPC domain on Nexus 7000?

256 (Correct answer)
64
512
1024

Correct answer: 256

A single vPC domain on Nexus 7000 supports up to 256 vPC IDs, each representing an individual port channel to a downstream device.

Question 15: What is the relationship between theory and practice in Cisco Certified Network Professional sd-wan?

Practice is only important; theory is unnecessary
Theory replaces the need for any practical experience
Theory and practice are completely unrelated
Theory provides the foundation and framework that guides effective practical application (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Theory provides the foundation and framework that guides effective practical application

Theory and practice are complementary: theoretical knowledge provides the conceptual framework and understanding that guides effective, evidence-based practical application in professional settings.

Question 16: What are the two types of core, or backbone designs?

Collapsed core (Correct answer)
Dual-core (Correct answer)
Layered core
Loop-free core

Correct answer: Collapsed core

Explanation: A collapsed core design refers to a network architecture where the core and distribution layers are combined into a single layer, reducing complexity and cost. On the other hand, a dual-core design involves having two separate core layers for redundancy and increased reliability. These designs are commonly used in network infrastructure to ensure efficient and reliable data transmission."

Question 17: What is MLDv2 (Multicast Listener Discovery version 2) used for in IPv6 networks?

Provides router-to-router multicast routing for IPv6 networks
Allows IPv6 hosts to report multicast group membership including source-specific requests to their local router (Correct answer)
Manages multicast address allocation across the IPv6 address space
Replaces PIMv6 for multicast tree building in IPv6 environments

Correct answer: Allows IPv6 hosts to report multicast group membership including source-specific requests to their local router

MLDv2 is the IPv6 equivalent of IGMPv3 and allows hosts to signal both group membership and specific source preferences to their local router for SSM support.

Question 18: Which Nexus feature provides hitless software upgrades by separating the control and forwarding planes?

In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) (Correct answer)
Non-Stop Forwarding (NSF)
Graceful Restart (GR)
Stateful Switchover (SSO)

Correct answer: In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU)

ISSU on Cisco Nexus allows the NX-OS software to be upgraded without dropping traffic by upgrading modules sequentially while maintaining forwarding.

Question 19: What is Bidirectional PIM (Bidir-PIM) and when is it preferred over PIM-SM?

A PIM variant that uses two RPs for redundancy in case the primary RP fails
A PIM mode where traffic flows in both directions along a shared tree, preferred for many-to-many multicast applications (Correct answer)
An extension of PIM-SM that removes the need for source registration with the RP
A mode that creates both a shared tree and an SPT simultaneously from the start

Correct answer: A PIM mode where traffic flows in both directions along a shared tree, preferred for many-to-many multicast applications

Bidir-PIM builds a bidirectional shared tree rooted at the RP, allowing traffic to flow both toward and away from the RP, making it more scalable for many-to-many communication patterns.

Question 20: Which approach is most effective for mastering advanced routing in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review (Correct answer)
Studying only immediately before examinations
Relying solely on on-the-job experience
Memorizing textbook definitions without understanding

Correct answer: Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review

The most effective approach combines theoretical understanding with practical application, reinforced by regular review and assessment, enabling deeper comprehension and long-term retention.

Question 21: What is the key difference between PIM Dense Mode (PIM-DM) and PIM Sparse Mode (PIM-SM)?

PIM-SM is used inside an AS while PIM-DM is used between ASes
PIM-DM requires a Rendezvous Point while PIM-SM does not
PIM-DM floods and prunes multicast traffic assuming receivers everywhere, while PIM-SM only forwards toward explicit receivers (Correct answer)
PIM-SM uses an RP to flood traffic everywhere, while PIM-DM uses explicit join messages

Correct answer: PIM-DM floods and prunes multicast traffic assuming receivers everywhere, while PIM-SM only forwards toward explicit receivers

PIM-DM floods multicast traffic to all routers and then prunes branches without receivers, while PIM-SM uses explicit join messages and an RP, making it more scalable for WAN environments.

Question 22: What is Source-Specific Multicast (SSM)?

A PIM mode that uses dense flooding before switching to sparse mode
A multicast model where receivers specify both the group address and the specific source they want to receive from (Correct answer)
An IGMP extension that supports source filtering at the host level only
A method where the source registers with multiple RPs simultaneously

Correct answer: A multicast model where receivers specify both the group address and the specific source they want to receive from

SSM uses the 232.0.0.0/8 address range and allows receivers to specify the exact (S,G) source-group pair, eliminating the need for an RP.

Question 23: What does system integration mean in Cisco Certified Network Professional network security?

Replacing all systems with a single application
Disabling connections between departments
Operating each system independently without data sharing
Connecting different systems so they can work together and share data seamlessly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Connecting different systems so they can work together and share data seamlessly

System integration connects different technology systems to work together seamlessly, enabling data sharing, reducing redundancy, and improving workflow efficiency across the organization.

Question 24: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what role does continuing education play in virtualization?

To replace initial certification requirements
To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices (Correct answer)
To increase testing frequency for compliance purposes
To prevent professionals from advancing in their careers

Correct answer: To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuing education ensures professionals stay current with new developments, evolving standards, and emerging best practices in their field, maintaining competence throughout their careers.

Question 25: What is the primary objective of troubleshooting methods in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

To limit access to the profession
To generate revenue for testing organizations
To ensure competence and proficiency in core troubleshooting methods concepts (Correct answer)
To replace practical experience entirely

Correct answer: To ensure competence and proficiency in core troubleshooting methods concepts

The primary objective of troubleshooting methods knowledge is to ensure practitioners have the competence and proficiency needed to perform effectively and safely in their professional roles.

Question 26: What does system integration mean in Cisco Certified Network Professional network automation?

Replacing all systems with a single application
Operating each system independently without data sharing
Disabling connections between departments
Connecting different systems so they can work together and share data seamlessly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Connecting different systems so they can work together and share data seamlessly

System integration connects different technology systems to work together seamlessly, enabling data sharing, reducing redundancy, and improving workflow efficiency across the organization.

Question 27: In which OSI layer should devices in the distribution layer typically operate?

Layer 4
Layer 3 (Correct answer)
Layer 1
Layer 2

Correct answer: Layer 3

Explanation: Devices in the distribution layer typically operate at Layer 3 of the OSI model. Layer 3, also known as the network layer, is responsible for routing packets across different networks. The distribution layer connects different LANs or VLANs and performs functions like routing, filtering, and policy-based traffic control. It ensures that packets are delivered to the correct destination network by examining IP addresses and making routing decisions. Therefore, devices in the distribution layer primarily operate at Layer 3 to facilitate inter-network communication.

Question 28: Where does a broadcast domain exist in a switched network?

Across all VLANs
On a single VLAN (Correct answer)
Across all switch ports
On a single switch port

Correct answer: On a single VLAN

Explanation: A broadcast domain exists on a single VLAN in a switched network. A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a logical grouping of devices that are connected to the same network and can communicate with each other as if they were on the same physical network. In a switched network, each VLAN is isolated from others, creating separate broadcast domains. This means that broadcast traffic, such as ARP requests or DHCP requests, is only forwarded within the same VLAN and does not cross over to other VLANs. Therefore, a broadcast domain exists within a single VLAN in a switched network.

Question 29: What is a best practice in Cisco Certified Network Professional troubleshooting methods?

The cheapest available approach
A practice used only by large organizations
Any practice that is easy to implement
A method or technique recognized as superior based on evidence and expert consensus (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A method or technique recognized as superior based on evidence and expert consensus

Best practices are methods, techniques, or approaches that are recognized through evidence, research, and expert consensus as producing superior results and are recommended for adoption.

Question 30: A switch block should be sized according to what?

A maximum of 250 access-layer users
The number of access-layer users (Correct answer)
The amount of rack space available
A study of the traffic patterns and flows (Correct answer)
The number of servers accessed by users

Correct answer: The number of access-layer users

Explanation: A switch block should be sized according to the number of access-layer users and a study of the traffic patterns and flows. The number of access-layer users is important because it determines the capacity needed to handle the network traffic. A study of the traffic patterns and flows helps to understand the data flow and identify potential bottlenecks or areas of high traffic, allowing for proper sizing of the switch block to ensure optimal performance and efficiency.

Question 31: What is the IPv6 loopback address?

FE80::1/128
127.0.0.1/8
FC00::1/128
::1/128 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: ::1/128

The IPv6 loopback address is ::1/128, which is the compressed notation for 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001.

Question 32: In Cisco NX-OS, what is the purpose of the 'copy running-config startup-config' equivalent command 'copy run start'?

Copies the startup config to a TFTP server
Merges the startup config into the running config
Exports the config as an XML file for APIC
Saves the running configuration to NVRAM so it persists after a reload (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Saves the running configuration to NVRAM so it persists after a reload

The 'copy run start' command on NX-OS saves the current running configuration to startup-config so changes persist after a switch reload.

Question 33: How many layers are recommended in the hierarchical campus network design model?

1
2
3 (Correct answer)
7
4

Correct answer: 3

Explanation: The hierarchical campus network design model recommends having three layers. This design consists of the core layer, distribution layer, and access layer. The core layer is responsible for high-speed switching and routing, connecting different buildings or campuses. The distribution layer provides connectivity between the core and access layers, handling traffic filtering and policy enforcement. The access layer connects end devices, such as computers and printers, to the network. Having three layers in the hierarchical model helps to improve network performance, scalability, and manageability.

Question 34: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, why is sd-wan knowledge important for professional certification?

It demonstrates competence and ensures practitioners meet established standards (Correct answer)
It is only required for administrative purposes
It is important only for entry-level positions
It has no practical relevance to daily work

Correct answer: It demonstrates competence and ensures practitioners meet established standards

Professional certification in specific knowledge areas demonstrates that practitioners have met established competency standards, ensuring quality of service and public protection.

Question 35: A hierarchical network’s distribution layer aggregates which of the following?

Broadcast domains
Access-layer switches (Correct answer)
Core switches
Routing updates

Correct answer: Access-layer switches

Explanation: A hierarchical network's distribution layer aggregates access-layer switches. The distribution layer is responsible for connecting the access layer to the core layer in a hierarchical network design. It acts as a central point for traffic distribution and provides services such as routing, filtering, and policy enforcement. By aggregating the access-layer switches, the distribution layer reduces the number of connections required to connect the access layer to the core layer, improving the scalability and manageability of the network.

Question 36: What is the primary consideration when implementing new technology in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

Choosing based on brand popularity alone
Selecting the most expensive option available
Implementing without user input or testing
Ensuring compatibility with existing systems and meeting user requirements (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ensuring compatibility with existing systems and meeting user requirements

Successful technology implementation requires ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure, meeting actual user needs, providing adequate training, and following a structured deployment plan.

Question 37: Which approach is most effective for mastering virtualization in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review (Correct answer)
Relying solely on on-the-job experience
Memorizing textbook definitions without understanding
Studying only immediately before examinations

Correct answer: Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review

The most effective approach combines theoretical understanding with practical application, reinforced by regular review and assessment, enabling deeper comprehension and long-term retention.

Question 38: Why is interdisciplinary collaboration important in CCNP advanced concepts?

Each discipline should work in complete isolation
Collaboration slows down decision-making without benefits
It brings diverse perspectives that enhance problem-solving and outcomes (Correct answer)
It is only relevant for research activities

Correct answer: It brings diverse perspectives that enhance problem-solving and outcomes

Interdisciplinary collaboration combines diverse expertise and perspectives, leading to more comprehensive analysis, creative solutions, and improved outcomes.

Question 39: What is the primary purpose of a vPC (Virtual Port Channel) in a Cisco data center?

Enable VXLAN encapsulation across the fabric
Provide out-of-band management for Nexus switches
Allow a device to connect to two Nexus switches as a single logical port channel (Correct answer)
Replace Spanning Tree Protocol entirely

Correct answer: Allow a device to connect to two Nexus switches as a single logical port channel

vPC allows a downstream device to connect to two Nexus switches simultaneously using a single logical port channel, eliminating blocked ports.

Question 40: Which underlay protocol does Cisco ACI use between spine and leaf switches?

OSPF
BGP
IS-IS (Correct answer)
EIGRP

Correct answer: IS-IS

Cisco ACI uses IS-IS as the underlay routing protocol for fabric discovery and loop-free topology within the spine-leaf architecture.

Question 41: What is the role of the APIC (Application Policy Infrastructure Controller) in Cisco ACI?

The spine switch that routes traffic between leaf nodes
Centralized policy management and orchestration controller for the ACI fabric (Correct answer)
A firewall service node inserted into the data path
A hardware load balancer integrated into the fabric

Correct answer: Centralized policy management and orchestration controller for the ACI fabric

The APIC is the centralized automation, policy, and management controller for Cisco ACI, though it is not in the data forwarding path.

Question 42: Which backup strategy in Cisco Certified Network Professional provides the most comprehensive data protection?

Storing all data on a single device
Printing all records on paper only
Backing up data only once a year
Regular incremental backups combined with periodic full backups (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Regular incremental backups combined with periodic full backups

A combination of regular incremental backups (capturing changes) and periodic full backups provides comprehensive data protection, balancing storage efficiency with recovery capability.

Question 43: What is the role of the Rendezvous Point (RP) in PIM Sparse Mode (PIM-SM)?

Acts as the meeting point where sources register and receivers join to establish multicast distribution trees (Correct answer)
Maintains the multicast routing table for the entire AS
Provides IGMP proxy services for downstream hosts
Forwards all multicast traffic using dense-mode flooding

Correct answer: Acts as the meeting point where sources register and receivers join to establish multicast distribution trees

The RP in PIM-SM is the central point where sources register their multicast streams and receivers send join messages to form the shared tree.

Question 44: What is the purpose of access controls in Cisco Certified Network Professional network security?

To track employee lunch breaks
To make systems slower and less convenient
To reduce the number of system users
To ensure only authorized users can view or modify sensitive data and systems (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To ensure only authorized users can view or modify sensitive data and systems

Access controls restrict system and data access to authorized personnel, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized viewing, modification, or deletion.

Question 45: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what is the primary benefit of implementing automated wireless networking?

Increased efficiency, accuracy, and consistency in operations (Correct answer)
Eliminating the need for skilled professionals
Reducing quality standards
Increasing manual processing requirements

Correct answer: Increased efficiency, accuracy, and consistency in operations

Automation improves operational efficiency by reducing human error, increasing processing speed, ensuring consistency, and freeing professionals to focus on tasks requiring human judgment.

Question 46: Which MPLS label value is reserved to indicate the Explicit Null label for IPv4?

3
2
0 (Correct answer)
1

Correct answer: 0

Label value 0 is the IPv4 Explicit Null label, which signals that the label must be popped but the packet should still be forwarded based on its IP header.

Question 47: Which backup strategy in Cisco Certified Network Professional provides the most comprehensive data protection?

Printing all records on paper only
Storing all data on a single device
Regular incremental backups combined with periodic full backups (Correct answer)
Backing up data only once a year

Correct answer: Regular incremental backups combined with periodic full backups

A combination of regular incremental backups (capturing changes) and periodic full backups provides comprehensive data protection, balancing storage efficiency with recovery capability.

Question 48: Which approach is most effective for mastering troubleshooting methods in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

Memorizing textbook definitions without understanding
Studying only immediately before examinations
Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review (Correct answer)
Relying solely on on-the-job experience

Correct answer: Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review

The most effective approach combines theoretical understanding with practical application, reinforced by regular review and assessment, enabling deeper comprehension and long-term retention.

Question 49: Which approach is most effective for mastering quality of service in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

Memorizing textbook definitions without understanding
Studying only immediately before examinations
Relying solely on on-the-job experience
Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review

The most effective approach combines theoretical understanding with practical application, reinforced by regular review and assessment, enabling deeper comprehension and long-term retention.

Question 50: What is the purpose of a Route Distinguisher (RD) in MPLS L3VPN?

It authenticates BGP sessions between PE routers
It makes overlapping customer IP prefixes unique in the BGP table (Correct answer)
It selects which VRF imports a prefix from BGP
It defines the MPLS label stack depth for VPN packets

Correct answer: It makes overlapping customer IP prefixes unique in the BGP table

An RD is prepended to customer prefixes to create a unique 96-bit VPNv4 address, allowing two customers with overlapping IP address spaces to coexist in the same MP-BGP table.

Question 51: In Cisco ACI, what is an Endpoint Group (EPG)?

A logical grouping of endpoints that share the same policy and security requirements (Correct answer)
A routing table entry in the spine layer
A VLAN segment spanning multiple leaf switches
A physical server connected to the ACI fabric

Correct answer: A logical grouping of endpoints that share the same policy and security requirements

An EPG is a logical grouping of endpoints (VMs, servers, etc.) that share the same policy, and communication between EPGs is controlled by contracts.

Question 52: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what role does continuing education play in troubleshooting methods?

To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices (Correct answer)
To replace initial certification requirements
To increase testing frequency for compliance purposes
To prevent professionals from advancing in their careers

Correct answer: To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuing education ensures professionals stay current with new developments, evolving standards, and emerging best practices in their field, maintaining competence throughout their careers.

Question 53: What is the purpose of the RPF (Reverse Path Forwarding) check in multicast routing?

Ensures multicast packets arrive on the interface that the router would use to reach the source, preventing loops (Correct answer)
Verifies that the RP is reachable before forwarding traffic
Checks that the multicast group address is valid before accepting traffic
Validates IGMP membership reports from downstream hosts

Correct answer: Ensures multicast packets arrive on the interface that the router would use to reach the source, preventing loops

RPF check prevents multicast routing loops by only accepting multicast packets that arrive on the correct upstream interface toward the source.

Question 54: How many distribution switches should be built into each switch block?

4
8
2 (Correct answer)
1

Correct answer: 2

Explanation: In order to ensure redundancy and avoid a single point of failure, it is recommended to have at least two distribution switches built into each switch block. This allows for load balancing and provides backup in case one switch fails. Having only one distribution switch would increase the risk of network downtime and potential disruptions. Having four or eight distribution switches would be excessive and unnecessary for most network setups, as it would result in increased complexity and cost without significant benefits.

Question 55: Which command is used to verify the vPC status and role on a Cisco Nexus switch?

show vpc peer-keepalive
show vpc (Correct answer)
show lacp neighbor
show port-channel summary

Correct answer: show vpc

The 'show vpc' command displays the vPC domain ID, role (primary/secondary), peer link status, and per-vPC consistency status.

Question 56: Which skill is most critical for success in CCNP advanced concepts?

Speed of task completion without quality checks
Analytical thinking and evidence-based decision making (Correct answer)
Relying on intuition without supporting evidence
Avoiding collaboration with other professionals

Correct answer: Analytical thinking and evidence-based decision making

Analytical thinking and evidence-based decision making are essential for evaluating situations and making informed professional decisions.

Question 57: What technology does Cisco FEX (Fabric Extender) implement?

Extends the parent Nexus switch's ports to a remote chassis without requiring a separate control plane (Correct answer)
Provides VXLAN gateway services for the ACI fabric
Creates a virtual chassis between multiple Nexus switches
Enables out-of-band management for blade servers

Correct answer: Extends the parent Nexus switch's ports to a remote chassis without requiring a separate control plane

Cisco FEX extends the parent Nexus switch's port count to a remote satellite device, which appears as a line card of the parent without its own control plane.

Question 58: What overlay encapsulation protocol does Cisco ACI use to carry tenant traffic across the fabric?

GRE
VXLAN (Correct answer)
MPLS
NVGRE

Correct answer: VXLAN

Cisco ACI uses VXLAN as the overlay encapsulation protocol to carry tenant traffic between leaf switches across the IP underlay.

Question 59: Which approach is most effective for mastering sd-wan in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review (Correct answer)
Relying solely on on-the-job experience
Studying only immediately before examinations
Memorizing textbook definitions without understanding

Correct answer: Combining theoretical study with practical application and regular review

The most effective approach combines theoretical understanding with practical application, reinforced by regular review and assessment, enabling deeper comprehension and long-term retention.

Question 60: What is a best practice in Cisco Certified Network Professional virtualization?

A method or technique recognized as superior based on evidence and expert consensus (Correct answer)
The cheapest available approach
Any practice that is easy to implement
A practice used only by large organizations

Correct answer: A method or technique recognized as superior based on evidence and expert consensus

Best practices are methods, techniques, or approaches that are recognized through evidence, research, and expert consensus as producing superior results and are recommended for adoption.

Question 61: Which backup strategy in Cisco Certified Network Professional provides the most comprehensive data protection?

Regular incremental backups combined with periodic full backups (Correct answer)
Printing all records on paper only
Backing up data only once a year
Storing all data on a single device

Correct answer: Regular incremental backups combined with periodic full backups

A combination of regular incremental backups (capturing changes) and periodic full backups provides comprehensive data protection, balancing storage efficiency with recovery capability.

Question 62: Which one of the following tasks is not an appropriate strategy for migrating an existing network into the Enterprise Composite Model?

Identify groups of end users as switch blocks
Add redundancy between the hierarchical layers
Identify distribution switches to connect the switch blocks (Correct answer)
Group common resources into switch blocks

Correct answer: Identify distribution switches to connect the switch blocks

Explanation: The task of identifying distribution switches to connect the switch blocks is not an appropriate strategy for migrating an existing network into the Enterprise Composite Model. The Enterprise Composite Model is a hierarchical network design that consists of access, distribution, and core layers. In this model, switch blocks are connected to distribution switches, which are then connected to the core layer. Therefore, the distribution switches should already be identified and in place before migrating the network into the Enterprise Composite Model.

Question 63: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what role does continuing education play in advanced routing?

To increase testing frequency for compliance purposes
To prevent professionals from advancing in their careers
To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices (Correct answer)
To replace initial certification requirements

Correct answer: To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuing education ensures professionals stay current with new developments, evolving standards, and emerging best practices in their field, maintaining competence throughout their careers.

Question 64: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, why is quality of service knowledge important for professional certification?

It is important only for entry-level positions
It demonstrates competence and ensures practitioners meet established standards (Correct answer)
It has no practical relevance to daily work
It is only required for administrative purposes

Correct answer: It demonstrates competence and ensures practitioners meet established standards

Professional certification in specific knowledge areas demonstrates that practitioners have met established competency standards, ensuring quality of service and public protection.

Question 65: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what role does continuing education play in sd-wan?

To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices (Correct answer)
To increase testing frequency for compliance purposes
To prevent professionals from advancing in their careers
To replace initial certification requirements

Correct answer: To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuing education ensures professionals stay current with new developments, evolving standards, and emerging best practices in their field, maintaining competence throughout their careers.

Question 66: What is the role of the vPC peer link in a Cisco Nexus vPC pair?

Carries BPDUs, multicast traffic, and orphan port traffic between peers (Correct answer)
Establishes the vPC domain ID
Provides out-of-band management connectivity
Forwards all unicast traffic between the two switches

Correct answer: Carries BPDUs, multicast traffic, and orphan port traffic between peers

The vPC peer link carries BPDUs, multicast, and traffic destined for orphan ports, acting as the inter-switch link for control and some data plane functions.

Question 67: What is a best practice in Cisco Certified Network Professional infrastructure services?

Any practice that is easy to implement
The cheapest available approach
A practice used only by large organizations
A method or technique recognized as superior based on evidence and expert consensus (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A method or technique recognized as superior based on evidence and expert consensus

Best practices are methods, techniques, or approaches that are recognized through evidence, research, and expert consensus as producing superior results and are recommended for adoption.

Question 68: How does continuous improvement apply to CCNP advanced concepts?

By making changes only when problems occur
Through regular evaluation of practices and implementation of evidence-based updates (Correct answer)
Through avoiding all forms of self-assessment
By maintaining the same procedures indefinitely

Correct answer: Through regular evaluation of practices and implementation of evidence-based updates

Continuous improvement involves systematically evaluating current practices and implementing evidence-based updates to enhance performance and outcomes.

Question 69: What is the primary objective of sd-wan in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

To ensure competence and proficiency in core sd-wan concepts (Correct answer)
To limit access to the profession
To generate revenue for testing organizations
To replace practical experience entirely

Correct answer: To ensure competence and proficiency in core sd-wan concepts

The primary objective of sd-wan knowledge is to ensure practitioners have the competence and proficiency needed to perform effectively and safely in their professional roles.

Question 70: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what is the primary benefit of implementing automated network security?

Increasing manual processing requirements
Reducing quality standards
Increased efficiency, accuracy, and consistency in operations (Correct answer)
Eliminating the need for skilled professionals

Correct answer: Increased efficiency, accuracy, and consistency in operations

Automation improves operational efficiency by reducing human error, increasing processing speed, ensuring consistency, and freeing professionals to focus on tasks requiring human judgment.

Question 71: What is ISATAP (Intra-Site Automatic Tunnel Addressing Protocol) used for?

Connects two separate IPv6 sites over an IPv4 WAN using manually configured tunnels
Translates IPv6 multicast addresses to IPv4 multicast addresses
Provides IPv6 connectivity between dual-stack nodes within an IPv4 site by using IPv4 addresses as the interface identifier (Correct answer)
Assigns global unicast IPv6 addresses to hosts in an IPv4-only network

Correct answer: Provides IPv6 connectivity between dual-stack nodes within an IPv4 site by using IPv4 addresses as the interface identifier

ISATAP enables IPv6 communication within a site by embedding the IPv4 address into the interface ID (::0:5EFE:<IPv4>) to create an IPv6-over-IPv4 tunnel automatically.

Question 72: Where does a collision domain exist in a switched network?

Across all VLANs
On a single switch port (Correct answer)
Across all switch ports
On a single VLAN

Correct answer: On a single switch port

Explanation: A collision domain exists on a single switch port in a switched network. In a switched network, each switch port operates as an individual collision domain. This means that when data is transmitted on a switch port, it does not collide with data transmitted on other switch ports. Switches use MAC address tables to forward data only to the intended destination port, effectively isolating each port and creating separate collision domains. This allows for efficient and simultaneous communication between devices connected to different switch ports.

Question 73: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what role does continuing education play in infrastructure services?

To increase testing frequency for compliance purposes
To prevent professionals from advancing in their careers
To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices (Correct answer)
To replace initial certification requirements

Correct answer: To keep professionals current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices

Continuing education ensures professionals stay current with new developments, evolving standards, and emerging best practices in their field, maintaining competence throughout their careers.

Question 74: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, why is troubleshooting methods knowledge important for professional certification?

It is important only for entry-level positions
It is only required for administrative purposes
It has no practical relevance to daily work
It demonstrates competence and ensures practitioners meet established standards (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It demonstrates competence and ensures practitioners meet established standards

Professional certification in specific knowledge areas demonstrates that practitioners have met established competency standards, ensuring quality of service and public protection.

Question 75: In an MPLS L3VPN, which protocol is used to exchange VPN routing information between PE routers?

MP-BGP with VPNv4 address family (Correct answer)
OSPF with route redistribution
IS-IS with extended TLVs
EIGRP with named mode

Correct answer: MP-BGP with VPNv4 address family

Multiprotocol BGP (MP-BGP) with the VPNv4 address family carries customer VPN prefixes between PE routers using Route Distinguishers and Route Targets to separate and import/export routes.

Question 76: Which command verifies the MPLS label forwarding table on a Cisco router?

show mpls forwarding-table (Correct answer)
show ip route mpls
show mpls ldp bindings detail
show mpls traffic-eng tunnels

Correct answer: show mpls forwarding-table

The 'show mpls forwarding-table' command displays the Label Forwarding Information Base (LFIB), showing incoming labels, outgoing labels, and next-hop interfaces.

Question 77: Which Cisco Nexus feature allows two switches to present a single management IP and be managed as one logical device?

VSS (Virtual Switching System)
vPC domain
StackWise Virtual
vPC+ with FabricPath (Correct answer)

Correct answer: vPC+ with FabricPath

vPC+ combined with FabricPath allows two Nexus 7000 switches to appear as a single logical switch with one management plane in a FabricPath domain.

Question 78: End-user PCs should be connected into which of the following hierarchical layers?

Common layer
Access layer (Correct answer)
Core layer
Distribution layer

Correct answer: Access layer

Explanation: End-user PCs should be connected to the access layer of the hierarchical network design. The access layer is responsible for connecting end-user devices to the network. It provides local network access, authentication, and security services. This layer is also responsible for implementing policies and controlling user access to network resources. By connecting end-user PCs to the access layer, network administrators can efficiently manage and control network traffic, ensuring that end-users have the necessary access to resources while maintaining network security and performance.

Question 79: What is a best practice in Cisco Certified Network Professional sd-wan?

Any practice that is easy to implement
The cheapest available approach
A practice used only by large organizations
A method or technique recognized as superior based on evidence and expert consensus (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A method or technique recognized as superior based on evidence and expert consensus

Best practices are methods, techniques, or approaches that are recognized through evidence, research, and expert consensus as producing superior results and are recommended for adoption.

Question 80: In Cisco ACI, what is a Contract used for?

Map a VLAN to a bridge domain
Configure uplink port speeds on leaf switches
Allocate IP addresses to endpoints
Define permitted communication between EPGs (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Define permitted communication between EPGs

Contracts define the allowed protocols and ports for communication between EPGs; without a contract, inter-EPG traffic is denied by default.

Question 81: In a dual-stack IPv6 deployment, what is the purpose of a DHCPv6 prefix delegation (DHCPv6-PD)?

Assigns a unique /128 loopback address to each router in the network
Translates DHCPv4 lease requests into DHCPv6 format for dual-stack hosts
Provides stateful IPv6 address assignment to individual hosts on a LAN
Allows an ISP or upstream router to delegate an IPv6 prefix to a customer router for sub-allocation to its downstream interfaces (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Allows an ISP or upstream router to delegate an IPv6 prefix to a customer router for sub-allocation to its downstream interfaces

DHCPv6-PD (RFC 3633) enables an upstream device to delegate an IPv6 prefix (typically /48 or /56) to a CPE router, which then sub-delegates /64 prefixes to its LAN interfaces.

Question 82: What is the multicast address range defined by IANA for general use?

230.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255
224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255 (Correct answer)
224.0.0.0 to 224.0.0.255
225.0.0.0 to 232.255.255.255

Correct answer: 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255

The full IPv4 multicast address range is 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255 (Class D), though specific sub-ranges are reserved for link-local, global, and administratively scoped use.

Question 83: What is the purpose of a Bridge Domain (BD) in Cisco ACI?

Provides out-of-band management for APIC
Connects two VRFs within the same tenant
Defines the Layer 2 flooding and Layer 3 gateway boundary for a set of endpoints (Correct answer)
Controls physical port membership on leaf switches

Correct answer: Defines the Layer 2 flooding and Layer 3 gateway boundary for a set of endpoints

A Bridge Domain in ACI defines the flooding and Layer 3 gateway scope, replacing traditional VLANs, and can have one or more associated subnets.

Question 84: Which EUI-64 process is used to auto-generate an IPv6 interface identifier from a MAC address?

Append the MAC address to the network prefix without modification
Hash the MAC address using SHA-1 to create a 64-bit ID
Insert FF:FE in the middle of the MAC address and flip the 7th bit (Correct answer)
Use DHCP to assign the interface identifier

Correct answer: Insert FF:FE in the middle of the MAC address and flip the 7th bit

EUI-64 splits the 48-bit MAC address in half, inserts FF:FE in the middle to create 64 bits, and flips the Universal/Local (U/L) bit.

Question 85: What is the primary function of a Label Edge Router (LER) in an MPLS network?

Push or pop MPLS labels at the boundary of the MPLS domain (Correct answer)
Assign BGP community attributes to MPLS paths
Perform RSVP signaling between core routers
Forward packets based solely on IP routing tables

Correct answer: Push or pop MPLS labels at the boundary of the MPLS domain

An LER (also called PE router) sits at the edge of the MPLS domain and is responsible for pushing labels onto incoming IP packets or popping labels from outgoing packets.

Question 86: What does system integration mean in Cisco Certified Network Professional wireless networking?

Disabling connections between departments
Replacing all systems with a single application
Operating each system independently without data sharing
Connecting different systems so they can work together and share data seamlessly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Connecting different systems so they can work together and share data seamlessly

System integration connects different technology systems to work together seamlessly, enabling data sharing, reducing redundancy, and improving workflow efficiency across the organization.

Question 87: Which ICMPv6 message type is sent by a host to discover routers on the local link?

Router Advertisement (Type 134)
Neighbor Solicitation (Type 135)
Redirect (Type 137)
Router Solicitation (Type 133) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Router Solicitation (Type 133)

A Router Solicitation (ICMPv6 Type 133) is sent by a host to the all-routers multicast address FF02::2 to discover available routers immediately.

Question 88: What is the relationship between theory and practice in Cisco Certified Network Professional advanced routing?

Theory replaces the need for any practical experience
Theory and practice are completely unrelated
Practice is only important; theory is unnecessary
Theory provides the foundation and framework that guides effective practical application (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Theory provides the foundation and framework that guides effective practical application

Theory and practice are complementary: theoretical knowledge provides the conceptual framework and understanding that guides effective, evidence-based practical application in professional settings.

Question 89: What is the relationship between theory and practice in Cisco Certified Network Professional troubleshooting methods?

Theory and practice are completely unrelated
Practice is only important; theory is unnecessary
Theory replaces the need for any practical experience
Theory provides the foundation and framework that guides effective practical application (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Theory provides the foundation and framework that guides effective practical application

Theory and practice are complementary: theoretical knowledge provides the conceptual framework and understanding that guides effective, evidence-based practical application in professional settings.

Question 90: What is the primary consideration when implementing new technology in Cisco Certified Network Professional?

Choosing based on brand popularity alone
Implementing without user input or testing
Selecting the most expensive option available
Ensuring compatibility with existing systems and meeting user requirements (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Ensuring compatibility with existing systems and meeting user requirements

Successful technology implementation requires ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure, meeting actual user needs, providing adequate training, and following a structured deployment plan.

Question 91: In Cisco Certified Network Professional, what is the purpose of an audit trail in information systems?

To reduce storage requirements
To increase system processing speed
To maintain a chronological record of system activities and changes (Correct answer)
To track employee personal social media usage

Correct answer: To maintain a chronological record of system activities and changes

An audit trail creates a chronological record of all system activities, including who accessed the system, what changes were made, and when, supporting accountability and compliance.

Question 92: Layer 2 switching uses which of the following values to forward data?

RIP address
MAC address (Correct answer)
UDP port
IPX address
IP address

Correct answer: MAC address

Explanation: Layer 2 switching uses MAC addresses to forward data. MAC addresses are unique identifiers assigned to network interface cards (NICs) at the factory. Layer 2 switches use these addresses to determine the destination of the data and forward it to the appropriate device on the local network. IP addresses, IPX addresses, RIP addresses, and UDP ports are all used in different layers of the network stack and are not directly used by layer 2 switching

Cisco CCNP Certification Exam

The Cisco CCNP Certification Exam validates advanced networking skills in routing, switching, security, SD-WAN, wireless, network automation, virtualization, QoS, data center technologies, multicast, IPv6, and troubleshooting for enterprise network professionals.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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Exam Rules

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No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds

These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

pearsonvue.com — Test delivery · verified Oct 2026
cisco.com — Renewal, eligibility, fees, score release, time limit, score validity, retake fee · verified Oct 2026
blogs.cisco.com — Exam information · verified Oct 2026