View Full Cisco CCNP Data Center 300-635 Exam Dumps and Practice Test Dumps

 

Question 61.

Which source-control operation creates an independent line of development so an engineer can work on an automation change without immediately affecting the main codebase?

1. Branch
   2. Commit
   3. Clone
   4. Tag

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

A Git branch creates an independent line of development that allows an engineer to modify automation scripts, templates, or configuration files without immediately changing the main production branch. This is useful when developing a new feature, fixing a bug, or testing infrastructure changes. A commit records changes in the current branch, while cloning copies an existing repository to another location. A tag typically marks a specific point in repository history, such as a release. Branch-based workflows help teams review and test changes before merging them into production code, which is especially important when automation can affect many data center systems at once.

Question 62.

Which Git operation records the current staged changes as a new revision in repository history?

1. merge
   2. commit
   3. pull
   4. checkout

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

A Git commit records staged changes as a new revision in repository history. Each commit normally includes a message describing the purpose of the change and allows teams to track how automation code evolved over time. A merge combines changes from separate branches, while pull retrieves changes from a remote repository and typically integrates them into the local branch. Checkout is commonly used to switch branches or restore content depending on the Git version and workflow. Clear, focused commits make infrastructure automation easier to audit, troubleshoot, review, and roll back when necessary.

Question 63.

A developer wants to compare a device’s current configuration with a desired configuration before making changes. Which automation principle does this best support?

1. Serialization
   2. Encapsulation
   3. Idempotency
   4. Fragmentation

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

Comparing current state with desired state before applying changes supports idempotency. An idempotent workflow changes only what is necessary and leaves infrastructure untouched when the desired state has already been achieved. This reduces unnecessary configuration churn and makes repeated execution safer. Serialization converts data into a transferable representation, while encapsulation is a software design concept. Fragmentation is a networking concept. In production automation, idempotency is especially valuable because workflows may be rerun after partial failure, during compliance validation, or as part of continuous deployment.

Question 64.

Which approach best protects an automation workflow from accidentally deleting the wrong production resource?

1. Disable all API logging
   2. Use broad wildcard filters
   3. Skip validation to improve speed
   4. Validate resource identity and scope before destructive operations

Correct Answer: 4

Explanation:

Destructive automation should validate resource identity, environment, object type, ownership, and scope before performing deletion. Additional safeguards can include dry-run modes, confirmation gates, change approval, backups, rollback plans, and explicit resource allowlists. Broad wildcard filters can accidentally affect unrelated objects, while disabling logging reduces traceability. Skipping validation increases operational risk. Because automation can execute changes rapidly across many systems, small logic errors can have a large blast radius. Safe design requires deliberate checks before high-impact actions are performed.

Question 65.

Which data structure is commonly used in YAML to represent a sequence of multiple tasks in an Ansible playbook?

1. List
   2. Integer
   3. Boolean only
   4. Binary stream

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

YAML uses lists to represent ordered sequences of items, and Ansible playbooks commonly use lists to define multiple tasks. Each task typically appears as an individual list item under the tasks key. YAML also supports mappings, which represent key-value structures. Understanding the difference between sequences and mappings is important because indentation and structure determine how Ansible interprets a playbook. A malformed list or incorrect indentation can cause parsing failures or unintended task behavior. Engineers should validate playbooks before applying them to production infrastructure.

Question 66.

In Ansible, what is the primary purpose of a variable?

1. Replace all modules
   2. Store reusable values that can change across hosts or environments
   3. Perform packet capture
   4. Create Git repositories automatically

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

Ansible variables store reusable values such as hostnames, VLAN IDs, credentials references, interface names, tenant names, or environment-specific parameters. They allow the same playbook or role to be reused across different systems without hardcoding every value. Variables can be defined in inventories, playbooks, host files, group files, roles, or external sources. This improves maintainability and reduces duplication. Variables do not replace modules, which perform automation operations, and they do not provide packet capture or source-control functionality.

Question 67.

Which Ansible feature is designed to organize reusable automation content into a standard directory structure containing tasks, handlers, variables, and templates?

1. Inventory group
   2. Callback plugin only
   3. Role
   4. Fact cache

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

An Ansible role organizes reusable automation content into a defined structure that can include tasks, handlers, variables, templates, defaults, and files. Roles make large automation projects easier to maintain by separating functionality into modular components. For example, one role might configure Cisco Nexus interfaces while another deploys monitoring settings. Inventory groups identify targets, while fact caching stores gathered system information. Roles improve reuse and consistency across environments and can be shared between projects when designed carefully.

Question 68.

Which Ansible mechanism is typically used to run a task only after another task reports that a configuration change occurred?

1. Inventory
   2. Variable
   3. Template
   4. Handler

Correct Answer: 4

Explanation:

Ansible handlers are special tasks that are triggered by notifications from other tasks, typically only when those tasks report a change. For example, a configuration task might notify a handler to restart a service only when the configuration file actually changes. This helps avoid unnecessary operations and supports idempotent behavior. Variables store data, templates generate content, and inventory defines managed targets. Handlers are useful in infrastructure automation because they allow follow-up actions to occur only when needed.

Question 69.

Which file format is most commonly used to define Terraform configuration?

1. HCL
   2. BMP
   3. WAV
   4. CSV only

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

Terraform commonly uses HashiCorp Configuration Language, or HCL, to define desired infrastructure state. HCL is designed to be human-readable and declarative, allowing engineers to describe resources, variables, providers, outputs, and relationships. Terraform then compares the desired configuration with current state and determines what changes are required. Media formats such as BMP and WAV are unrelated. CSV may be used as input data in some workflows but is not the primary Terraform configuration language.

Question 70.

What is the purpose of a Terraform provider?

1. Store packet captures
   2. Enable Terraform to interact with a specific API, platform, or service
   3. Replace Git version control
   4. Encrypt all application traffic automatically

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

A Terraform provider is a plugin that allows Terraform to interact with a particular platform, API, or service. Providers define the resource types and data sources Terraform can manage. In data center environments, providers may expose resources associated with network controllers, cloud services, infrastructure platforms, or other systems. Terraform configuration references those provider capabilities to create or modify infrastructure. A provider does not replace version control and does not inherently encrypt traffic. Engineers should select supported provider versions and understand the resources they expose.

Question 71.

What is the primary purpose of the terraform plan command?

1. Destroy every managed resource
   2. Create a Git branch
   3. Preview the changes Terraform intends to make
   4. Restart the Terraform service

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

terraform plan evaluates the current state and the declared configuration to show what Terraform intends to create, modify, or destroy. This preview is valuable because it allows engineers to review potentially disruptive changes before applying them. The plan can reveal unintended deletions, replacements, or configuration drift. terraform apply performs approved changes, while terraform destroy removes managed resources. Reviewing plans is an important safeguard in production environments because infrastructure-as-code tools can make broad changes quickly.

Question 72.

Why is the Terraform state file important?

1. It stores only Git commit messages
   2. It replaces the network controller
   3. It contains only application logs
   4. It tracks the relationship between declared resources and managed infrastructure

Correct Answer: 4

Explanation:

Terraform state tracks information about the resources Terraform manages and maps configuration declarations to real infrastructure objects. Terraform uses this information to determine what has changed and what actions are needed to reach the desired state. State can contain sensitive infrastructure details, so it should be protected appropriately and often stored in a controlled remote backend for team workflows. It should not be edited casually. The state file is not a replacement for a controller or source-control system and is not merely an application log.

Question 73.

Which benefit is provided by storing Terraform state in a controlled remote backend rather than only on an engineer’s local workstation?

1. Better team access, centralized state handling, and potential locking capabilities
   2. It removes the need for authentication
   3. It guarantees every API operation succeeds
   4. It eliminates the need for version control

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

A remote Terraform backend can centralize state so multiple engineers or automation pipelines work from the same authoritative state data. Depending on the backend, it can also provide state locking to reduce the risk of concurrent changes, encryption, access controls, and version history. Keeping state only on an individual’s workstation increases the risk of loss or conflicting copies. Remote state does not eliminate authentication or source control, and API failures are still possible. State should be treated as sensitive because it can contain infrastructure details and sometimes secret values.

Question 74.

Which Cisco Nexus programmability feature allows structured access to switch configuration and operational data without relying entirely on interactive CLI sessions?

1. STP only
   2. NX-API
   3. HSRP only
   4. VTP only

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

NX-API provides programmatic access to supported Cisco Nexus platforms through HTTP or HTTPS. Automation tools can submit requests and receive structured output such as JSON or XML, depending on the operation and platform. This makes NX-API useful for gathering operational information and automating configuration tasks. STP, HSRP, and VTP are networking protocols or features, not general programmatic interfaces. Structured APIs make automation more reliable than screen scraping CLI output because the returned data is easier for software to parse.

Question 75.

Which data model technology is commonly associated with model-driven network programmability and works with protocols such as NETCONF or RESTCONF?

1. YANG
   2. PNG
   3. SMTP
   4. FTP

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

YANG is a data modeling language used to define the structure of configuration and operational data for network devices and services. It is commonly associated with model-driven interfaces such as NETCONF and RESTCONF. YANG models define containers, lists, leaves, data types, and relationships that clients can use in a predictable way. PNG is an image format, while SMTP and FTP are application protocols unrelated to data modeling. Model-driven programmability reduces dependence on vendor-specific CLI parsing and enables structured automation.

Question 76.

Which protocol is commonly used with YANG models to retrieve or modify structured device configuration over an SSH-based session?

1. TFTP
   2. SNMP trap only
   3. Telnet
   4. NETCONF

Correct Answer: 4

Explanation:

NETCONF is a network management protocol commonly transported over SSH and used with YANG data models to retrieve, edit, and manage structured device configuration. It provides operations such as retrieving configuration, editing datastores, locking configuration, and committing changes depending on device support. RESTCONF provides a REST-like interface to YANG-modeled data, while NETCONF uses XML-based RPC operations. TFTP, Telnet, and SNMP traps do not provide the same model-driven configuration functionality.

Question 77.

Which advantage does model-driven programmability provide compared with parsing unstructured CLI output?

1. Predictable structured data defined by a schema
   2. It eliminates all network failures
   3. It removes the need for authorization
   4. It guarantees zero configuration errors

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

Model-driven programmability provides structured data based on an explicit schema, making automation more predictable and easier to validate. Instead of parsing human-oriented text that can change between software versions, clients interact with defined fields and data types. This improves reliability and supports programmatic validation. It does not eliminate connectivity failures, authorization requirements, or human logic errors. Automation still requires careful testing and exception handling, but structured models significantly reduce dependence on brittle text parsing.

Question 78.

Which approach is most appropriate when an API returns a temporary 503 Service Unavailable response?

1. Assume the resource is permanently deleted
   2. Apply controlled retry logic with backoff if appropriate
   3. Disable authentication
   4. Delete the automation script

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

HTTP 503 indicates that the service is temporarily unavailable, often because of maintenance, overload, or another transient condition. Automation can often handle this using controlled retries with limits and backoff rather than failing immediately or retrying continuously. The script should distinguish temporary server errors from permanent client-side problems. Logging the failure and eventual outcome is also important. A 503 does not indicate that the resource has been permanently deleted, and disabling authentication would not solve the issue.

Question 79.

Which software-development practice is most useful for automatically verifying that a Python function produces the expected result after code changes?

1. Unit testing
   2. Packet flooding
   3. VLAN pruning
   4. Route summarization

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

Unit testing verifies small components of code, such as individual functions, in isolation. For example, a test might confirm that a function correctly parses an APIC response or generates the expected payload from input variables. Automated tests can run whenever code changes, helping detect regressions before automation reaches production. Packet flooding, VLAN pruning, and route summarization are networking concepts rather than software testing methods. Testing is especially important in infrastructure automation because a small coding error can affect many devices rapidly.

Question 80.

A team wants to automatically test and validate automation code every time changes are pushed to the shared repository. Which development practice best supports this goal?

1. Manual CLI-only administration
   2. Disable source-control hooks
   3. Continuous integration
   4. Store production secrets in code

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

Continuous integration, or CI, automatically builds and tests code whenever changes are committed or proposed. In infrastructure automation, a CI pipeline can check syntax, run unit tests, validate YAML or Terraform files, perform linting, test templates, and identify policy violations before changes are merged. This improves consistency and reduces the likelihood that broken automation reaches production. CI should be combined with code review and secure secret handling. Manual administration and embedded production credentials do not provide automated validation and can increase operational risk.