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Topic: Switching Internals & Cloud ModelsSwitch
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1.0 Architecture

Switching Internals & Cloud Models Practice Questions

CEF/TCAM forwarding internals, cloud service models, and DNA Center's architectural role.

One solved question, so you can see how these are marked

What is the primary difference between Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) and Fast Switching?

Fast switching caches after a process-switched first packet; CEF prebuilds its FIB.

Fast switching processes the first packet of a flow via CPU (process switching) to build a cache entry. CEF pre-populates the Forwarding Information Base (FIB) and Adjacency Table directly from the routing table and ARP table prior to traffic arrival.

Every question in the set below is marked like this. The answers stay hidden until you pick one.

All 10 Switching Internals & Cloud Models questions in this set

Answers and explanations appear when you work through the set above.

  1. Which subsystem in Cisco DNA Center processes telemetry, NetFlow, SNMP, and Syslog data to provide proactive network monitoring and troubleshooting?

    • Network Control Platform (NCP) automation
    • Network Data Platform (NDP) / Assurance
    • Cisco ISE pxGrid sync engine
    • Cisco Prime Infrastructure server

  2. In Cisco Enterprise switches, which memory component stores MAC address table entries for precise layer 2 bridging lookups?

    • TCAM (Ternary Content Addressable Memory)
    • CAM (Content Addressable Memory)
    • NVRAM (non-volatile RAM)
    • Flash memory on the supervisor

  3. What is a primary architectural feature of a Collapsed Core (2-Tier) campus network model compared to a traditional 3-Tier model?

    • The Distribution and Core layers are combined into single switch platforms.
    • The Access and Distribution layers are replaced with direct Cloud connections.
    • Core routers are eliminated completely in favor of Layer 2 bridges.
    • Wireless controllers handle all inter-VLAN routing functions.

  4. Which cloud service model provides managed runtimes, middleware, and database services for deploying applications without requiring customers to manage the underlying operating system or hypervisor?

    • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
    • Platform as a Service (PaaS)
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Anything as a Service (XaaS)

  5. Which characteristic defines the Software as a Service (SaaS) cloud service model?

    • The provider delivers raw virtual machines, storage, and network subnets to customers.
    • The provider runs the application and everything under it; users just consume the app.
    • Customers write custom Linux kernel drivers so the provider can run their application.
    • The customer keeps full administrative control of the hypervisors and storage pools.

  6. What specific information is maintained inside the Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) Adjacency Table?

    • Complete BGP path attribute lists for each prefix
    • Layer 2 rewrite data (such as next-hop MACs)
    • Active TCP session state for flows through the router
    • DNS hostname-to-IP mappings cached by the router

  7. What does a Glean CEF adjacency entry indicate when listed in the Forwarding Information Base (FIB)?

    • Packets that match the prefix are dropped silently because of an explicit filter.
    • The subnet is directly connected, but the host's MAC is not yet resolved by ARP.
    • Traffic for this prefix is sent to Null0 as part of a summary route discard.
    • The prefix is waiting on a BGP best-path recalculation before it can be used.

  8. In an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model, which component remains the operational responsibility of the customer enterprise?

    • Physical data center power, cooling, and hardware rack mounting
    • Guest OS patching, VM configuration, and application security
    • Storage Area Network (SAN) physical disk replacement in the provider's arrays
    • Hypervisor software kernel updates on the provider's hosts

  9. Which database is derived directly from the Control Plane Routing Information Base (RIB) and programmed into hardware for rapid Layer 3 forwarding?

    • CAM table of learned MAC addresses
    • Forwarding Information Base (FIB)
    • Adjacency table of next-hop rewrites
    • LISP Host Tracking Database

  10. On high-end Cisco modular switches, what mechanism offloads IP packet processing and lookup decisions directly to line card processors without involving the main Route Processor CPU?

    • Fast Switching with a route cache
    • Distributed CEF (dCEF)
    • Process Switching on the RP
    • Central CEF on the Route Processor