Question 640
TACACS+ returns Access-Reject for an unauthorized engineer, and operators expect local fallback to override the explicit rejection. During troubleshooting: The rejected engineer remains denied despite valid local credentials configured on the router. Which underlying cause best explains the recorded behavior?
- The AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference.
- The AAA method list provides no valid local fallback for AAA server errors.
- An authoritative TACACS+ rejection is not the same condition as server unavailability.
- Only authentication was centralized; privileged command authorization was not enforced.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:The actual technical cause is: An authoritative TACACS+ rejection is not the same condition as server unavailability. It specifically explains the observation: the rejected engineer remains denied despite valid local credentials configured on the router. The correcting configuration is: respect the AAA method's explicit deny; reserve local fallback for unreachable/error conditions as supported.
Incorrect Answers
A:That diagnosis is supported by a different symptom: Remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable. Here the recorded observation is: the rejected engineer remains denied despite valid local credentials configured on the router. The applicable cause is: an authoritative TACACS+ rejection is not the same condition as server unavailability.
B:That diagnosis is supported by a different symptom: All router administration fails when the TACACS+ server becomes unreachable. Here the recorded observation is: the rejected engineer remains denied despite valid local credentials configured on the router. The applicable cause is: an authoritative TACACS+ rejection is not the same condition as server unavailability.
D:That diagnosis is supported by a different symptom: A viewer who authenticated with TACACS+ can configure router interfaces. Here the recorded observation is: the rejected engineer remains denied despite valid local credentials configured on the router. The applicable cause is: an authoritative TACACS+ rejection is not the same condition as server unavailability.
Question 641
TACACS+ returns Access-Reject for an unauthorized engineer, and operators expect local fallback to override the explicit rejection. The initial change is: Respect the AAA method's explicit deny; reserve local fallback for unreachable/error conditions as supported. Which continuing control most directly prevents a recurrence of the documented problem: The rejected engineer remains denied despite valid local credentials configured on the router.
- Check failover order and independent server-path reachability at each site.
- Test role-to-command mappings after changing TACACS+ shell profiles.
- Validate emergency fallback without creating a bypass for deliberate centralized denies.
- Test server-error versus explicit-deny handling and keep local credentials vaulted.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:The continuing protective control is: Validate emergency fallback without creating a bypass for deliberate centralized denies. This addresses the underlying failure mechanism: an authoritative TACACS+ rejection is not the same condition as server unavailability. The corresponding operational check is: test one explicit server-rejected login and one server-unreachable login to distinguish behaviors.
Incorrect Answers
A:That control reduces a separate risk: The AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference. For the described design, the recurring risk arises from: an authoritative TACACS+ rejection is not the same condition as server unavailability. The specific required safeguard is: validate emergency fallback without creating a bypass for deliberate centralized denies.
B:That control reduces a separate risk: Only authentication was centralized; privileged command authorization was not enforced. For the described design, the recurring risk arises from: an authoritative TACACS+ rejection is not the same condition as server unavailability. The specific required safeguard is: validate emergency fallback without creating a bypass for deliberate centralized denies.
D:That control reduces a separate risk: The AAA method list provides no valid local fallback for AAA server errors. For the described design, the recurring risk arises from: an authoritative TACACS+ rejection is not the same condition as server unavailability. The specific required safeguard is: validate emergency fallback without creating a bypass for deliberate centralized denies.
Question 642
A network device is configured with an AAA named login list but engineers apply it only to console lines, leaving VTY lines on a shared password. The incident evidence is: Remote SSH ignores TACACS+ authentication while console login correctly uses it. Which targeted configuration or design change best addresses the failure?
- Use a suitable TACACS+ device-administration integration when granular command authorization is required.
- Enable AAA command accounting to an appropriate TACACS+ server with required privilege levels.
- Attach the correct AAA login method list to VTY lines as well as the intended console scope.
- Configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:The required correction is: Attach the correct AAA login method list to VTY lines as well as the intended console scope. The underlying failure mechanism is: The named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration. Verify success by carrying out this direct test: inspect each line's method-list binding and verify SSH login uses the centralized identity.
Incorrect Answers
A:Using a suitable TACACS+ device-administration integration when granular command authorization is required would not attach the correct AAA login method list to VTY lines as well as the intended console scope.
B:Enabling AAA command accounting to an appropriate TACACS+ server with required privilege levels would not attach the correct AAA login method list to VTY lines as well as the intended console scope.
D:Configuring a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions would not attach the correct AAA login method list to VTY lines as well as the intended console scope.
Question 643
A network device is configured with an AAA named login list but engineers apply it only to console lines, leaving VTY lines on a shared password. The proposed remedy is: Attach the correct AAA login method list to VTY lines as well as the intended console scope. Which observation would most directly confirm that remedy works as intended?
- Inspect each line's method-list binding and verify SSH login uses the centralized identity.
- Test a low-privilege administrative login and verify denied commands are enforced at the device.
- Disable the primary in a lab and confirm the device authenticates against the secondary server.
- Simulate server unreachability and verify local break-glass login; then test explicit TACACS+ reject behavior.
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:The decisive acceptance observation is: Inspect each line's method-list binding and verify SSH login uses the centralized identity. This tests the working mechanism, while the original incident was: remote SSH ignores TACACS+ authentication while console login correctly uses it.
Incorrect Answers
B:This test measures a different behavior: Test a low-privilege administrative login and verify denied commands are enforced at the device. It does not establish the target outcome. For the documented fault, the direct acceptance test is: inspect each line's method-list binding and verify SSH login uses the centralized identity.
C:This test measures a different behavior: Disable the primary in a lab and confirm the device authenticates against the secondary server. It does not establish the target outcome. For the documented fault, the direct acceptance test is: inspect each line's method-list binding and verify SSH login uses the centralized identity.
D:This test measures a different behavior: Simulate server unreachability and verify local break-glass login; then test explicit TACACS+ reject behavior. It does not establish the target outcome. For the documented fault, the direct acceptance test is: inspect each line's method-list binding and verify SSH login uses the centralized identity.
Question 644
A network device is configured with an AAA named login list but engineers apply it only to console lines, leaving VTY lines on a shared password. During troubleshooting: Remote SSH ignores TACACS+ authentication while console login correctly uses it. Which underlying cause best explains the recorded behavior?
- RADIUS network-access AAA was conflated with TACACS+ granular device-command authorization.
- The AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference.
- The named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration.
- The AAA method list provides no valid local fallback for AAA server errors.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:The actual technical cause is: The named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration. It specifically explains the observation: remote SSH ignores TACACS+ authentication while console login correctly uses it. The correcting configuration is: attach the correct AAA login method list to VTY lines as well as the intended console scope.
Incorrect Answers
A:That diagnosis is supported by a different symptom: An administrative user receives broad CLI access because the RADIUS design lacks the intended command-by-command policy. Here the recorded observation is: remote SSH ignores TACACS+ authentication while console login correctly uses it. The applicable cause is: the named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration.
B:That diagnosis is supported by a different symptom: Remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable. Here the recorded observation is: remote SSH ignores TACACS+ authentication while console login correctly uses it. The applicable cause is: the named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration.
D:That diagnosis is supported by a different symptom: All router administration fails when the TACACS+ server becomes unreachable. Here the recorded observation is: remote SSH ignores TACACS+ authentication while console login correctly uses it. The applicable cause is: the named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration.
Question 645
A network device is configured with an AAA named login list but engineers apply it only to console lines, leaving VTY lines on a shared password. The initial change is: Attach the correct AAA login method list to VTY lines as well as the intended console scope. Which continuing control most directly prevents a recurrence of the documented problem: Remote SSH ignores TACACS+ authentication while console login correctly uses it.
- Test server-error versus explicit-deny handling and keep local credentials vaulted.
- Separate network-access RADIUS policies from device-admin TACACS+ requirements.
- Check failover order and independent server-path reachability at each site.
- Review all line and management transport types when deploying AAA templates.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:The continuing protective control is: Review all line and management transport types when deploying AAA templates. This addresses the underlying failure mechanism: the named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration. The corresponding operational check is: inspect each line's method-list binding and verify SSH login uses the centralized identity.
Incorrect Answers
A:That control reduces a separate risk: The AAA method list provides no valid local fallback for AAA server errors. For the described design, the recurring risk arises from: the named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration. The specific required safeguard is: review all line and management transport types when deploying AAA templates.
B:That control reduces a separate risk: RADIUS network-access AAA was conflated with TACACS+ granular device-command authorization. For the described design, the recurring risk arises from: the named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration. The specific required safeguard is: review all line and management transport types when deploying AAA templates.
C:That control reduces a separate risk: The AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference. For the described design, the recurring risk arises from: the named method list was not bound to the VTY line configuration. The specific required safeguard is: review all line and management transport types when deploying AAA templates.
Question 646
Two independent TACACS+ servers serve a WAN site, and loss of the first must not block supported administrative login. The incident evidence is: Remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable. Which targeted configuration or design change best addresses the failure?
- Specify supported AAA source-interface/VRF settings so requests use a reachable address with registered client policy.
- Configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions.
- Create an AAA login method list with TACACS+ first and local fallback for server error cases.
- Enable supported AAA exec and command authorization through TACACS+ policy with appropriate emergency fallback.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:The required correction is: Configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions. The underlying failure mechanism is: The AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference. Verify success by carrying out this direct test: disable the primary in a lab and confirm the device authenticates against the secondary server.
Incorrect Answers
A:Specifying supported AAA source-interface/VRF settings so requests use a reachable address with registered client policy would not configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions.
C:Creating an AAA login method list with TACACS+ first and local fallback for server error cases would not configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions.
D:Enabling supported AAA exec and command authorization through TACACS+ policy with appropriate emergency fallback would not configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions.
Question 647
Two independent TACACS+ servers serve a WAN site, and loss of the first must not block supported administrative login. The proposed remedy is: Configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions. Which observation would most directly confirm that remedy works as intended?
- Simulate server unreachability and verify local break-glass login; then test explicit TACACS+ reject behavior.
- Capture AAA packet source address and confirm responses return to the intended VRF interface.
- Disable the primary in a lab and confirm the device authenticates against the secondary server.
- Run an allowed show command and a forbidden configuration command for a limited operator; inspect server authorization logs.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:The decisive acceptance observation is: Disable the primary in a lab and confirm the device authenticates against the secondary server. This tests the working mechanism, while the original incident was: remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable.
Incorrect Answers
A:This test measures a different behavior: Simulate server unreachability and verify local break-glass login; then test explicit TACACS+ reject behavior. It does not establish the target outcome. For the documented fault, the direct acceptance test is: disable the primary in a lab and confirm the device authenticates against the secondary server.
B:This test measures a different behavior: Capture AAA packet source address and confirm responses return to the intended VRF interface. It does not establish the target outcome. For the documented fault, the direct acceptance test is: disable the primary in a lab and confirm the device authenticates against the secondary server.
D:This test measures a different behavior: Run an allowed show command and a forbidden configuration command for a limited operator; inspect server authorization logs. It does not establish the target outcome. For the documented fault, the direct acceptance test is: disable the primary in a lab and confirm the device authenticates against the secondary server.
Question 648
Two independent TACACS+ servers serve a WAN site, and loss of the first must not block supported administrative login. During troubleshooting: Remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable. Which underlying cause best explains the recorded behavior?
- AAA transport source or VRF context does not match the server's known-client configuration.
- The AAA method list provides no valid local fallback for AAA server errors.
- The AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference.
- Only authentication was centralized; privileged command authorization was not enforced.
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:The actual technical cause is: The AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference. It specifically explains the observation: remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable. The correcting configuration is: configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions.
Incorrect Answers
A:That diagnosis is supported by a different symptom: TACACS+ requests leave an unregistered data interface and the server silently rejects or ignores them. Here the recorded observation is: remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable. The applicable cause is: the AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference.
B:That diagnosis is supported by a different symptom: All router administration fails when the TACACS+ server becomes unreachable. Here the recorded observation is: remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable. The applicable cause is: the AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference.
D:That diagnosis is supported by a different symptom: A viewer who authenticated with TACACS+ can configure router interfaces. Here the recorded observation is: remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable. The applicable cause is: the AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference.
Question 649
Two independent TACACS+ servers serve a WAN site, and loss of the first must not block supported administrative login. The initial change is: Configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions. Which continuing control most directly prevents a recurrence of the documented problem: Remote administration fails whenever the first configured TACACS+ server is unavailable.
- Check failover order and independent server-path reachability at each site.
- Document AAA source addresses and update server client definitions after address changes.
- Test server-error versus explicit-deny handling and keep local credentials vaulted.
- Test role-to-command mappings after changing TACACS+ shell profiles.
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:The continuing protective control is: Check failover order and independent server-path reachability at each site. This addresses the underlying failure mechanism: the AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference. The corresponding operational check is: disable the primary in a lab and confirm the device authenticates against the secondary server.
Incorrect Answers
B:That control reduces a separate risk: AAA transport source or VRF context does not match the server's known-client configuration. For the described design, the recurring risk arises from: the AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference. The specific required safeguard is: check failover order and independent server-path reachability at each site.
C:That control reduces a separate risk: The AAA method list provides no valid local fallback for AAA server errors. For the described design, the recurring risk arises from: the AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference. The specific required safeguard is: check failover order and independent server-path reachability at each site.
D:That control reduces a separate risk: Only authentication was centralized; privileged command authorization was not enforced. For the described design, the recurring risk arises from: the AAA server group lacks a usable secondary or uses the wrong server group reference. The specific required safeguard is: check failover order and independent server-path reachability at each site.
Question 650
A router forwards AAA queries to a server through a management VRF, but the server replies to the wrong router source IP. The incident evidence is: TACACS+ requests leave an unregistered data interface and the server silently rejects or ignores them. Which targeted configuration or design change best addresses the failure?
- Enable AAA command accounting to an appropriate TACACS+ server with required privilege levels.
- Configure a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions.
- Enable supported AAA exec and command authorization through TACACS+ policy with appropriate emergency fallback.
- Specify supported AAA source-interface/VRF settings so requests use a reachable address with registered client policy.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:The required correction is: Specify supported AAA source-interface/VRF settings so requests use a reachable address with registered client policy. The underlying failure mechanism is: AAA transport source or VRF context does not match the server's known-client configuration. Verify success by carrying out this direct test: capture AAA packet source address and confirm responses return to the intended VRF interface.
Incorrect Answers
A:Enabling AAA command accounting to an appropriate TACACS+ server with required privilege levels would not specify supported AAA source-interface/VRF settings so requests use a reachable address with registered client policy.
B:Configuring a supported AAA server group with reachable primary and secondary TACACS+ server definitions would not specify supported AAA source-interface/VRF settings so requests use a reachable address with registered client policy.
C:Enabling supported AAA exec and command authorization through TACACS+ policy with appropriate emergency fallback would not specify supported AAA source-interface/VRF settings so requests use a reachable address with registered client policy.
Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) (350-401) Practice Tests