6.3 Describe Controller-Based, Software Defined Architecture (overlay, Underlay, and Fabric) 200-301 Practice Questions (Page 1)

Questions 1–5

1. 1application · medium

   A network administrator is configuring a controller-based network where the controller must program forwarding tables on physical switches. The switches are from a vendor that supports OpenFlow. Which action should the administrator take to enable the controller to communicate with the switches?

   • ADeploy a virtual switch on each physical switch to handle controller communication.
   • BConfigure the switches to use NETCONF to send telemetry to the controller.
   • CEnable the OpenFlow agent on the switches and configure the controller IP address on each switch.
   • DUse a northbound API to push flow entries to the switches.
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2. 2application · medium

   An engineer is configuring a Cisco SD-Access fabric. The controller needs to program the fabric edge switches with the correct VXLAN mappings and forwarding rules. Which API is used between the controller and the switches to accomplish this?

   • ANETCONF API
   • BREST API
   • CNorthbound API
   • DSouthbound API
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4. 3foundation · easy

   What is a key benefit of separating the control plane from the data plane in a controller-based architecture?

   • AIt allows the network to be managed and programmed from a central controller.
   • BIt eliminates the need for physical network devices entirely.
   • CIt automatically encrypts all data plane traffic without additional configuration.
   • DIt increases the forwarding speed of every individual switch by adding more processing power.
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5. 4expert · hard

   A large enterprise is designing a controller-based network. The network team wants to centralize control plane functions to simplify policy management, but they also need to ensure that the data plane continues to forward traffic even if the controller becomes unreachable. Which design approach best meets both requirements?

   • AUse a controller that only monitors the network and does not program the data plane.
   • BUse a fully centralized model where all forwarding decisions require the controller.
   • CUse a distributed control plane with no controller.
   • DUse a hybrid model where the controller programs the data plane, but switches retain local forwarding fallback for known flows.
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6. 5expert · hard

   A service provider is offering SD-WAN services to multiple customers. Each customer has its own overlay network. The provider wants to ensure that customer traffic is isolated and that the underlay is efficiently utilized. Which approach best achieves this?

   • AUse the controller to create a separate underlay for each customer.
   • BUse a separate overlay tunnel for each customer and rely on the underlay's IP routing.
   • CUse a separate VRF for each customer in the underlay.
   • DUse a single overlay tunnel for all customers and use VLANs to separate traffic.
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