Pass the Cisco CCIE Wireless 350-101 Questions and answers with Dumpstech

Fast transition is the correct solution because it refers to IEEE 802.11r Fast BSS Transition, which reduces the authentication delay when a wireless client roams from one AP to another. Cisco describes 802.11r Fast Transition as a feature for seamless wireless roaming and states that, after configuration, the WLAN supports faster client roaming between access points. Cisco’s Catalyst 9800 roaming documentation also identifies 802.11r as the mechanism focused on seamless transition between APs, while 802.11k and 802.11v assist with neighbor reporting and network-assisted roaming decisions.

The core advantage is that key negotiation and authentication preparation occur before or during the roam, reducing the interruption experienced by latency-sensitive applications such as voice, video, collaboration tools, and real-time enterprise applications. Static VLAN policy only controls segmentation and does not accelerate roaming. Optimized roaming can help discourage sticky clients from remaining associated to poor-quality APs, but it is not the primary fast-roam authentication mechanism. A redundant RF profile is not an 802.11 roaming solution. Reference topics:802.11r Fast BSS Transition, client roaming, WLAN mobility behavior, Catalyst 9800 WLAN security, and seamless roaming design.

The correct answer isreduction of co-channel interference. AI-RRM in Cisco Catalyst Center is designed for RF optimization, not IP addressing, software scheduling, or user identity classification. Cisco describes AI-enhanced RRM as applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize RF environments and automate/adapt RF parameter tuning for Cisco wireless networks. This is directly tied to operational RF outcomes such as improved channel planning, transmit power behavior, channel width decisions, and better spectrum utilization.

Co-channel interference occurs when multiple AP radios operate on the same channel within hearing range, forcing devices to share airtime and increasing contention. AI-RRM uses telemetry, analytics, and learned RF behavior to recommend or apply more optimal RF configurations. Cisco specifically states that AI-enhanced RRM optimization can produce improvements such as up to a40 percent reduction in co-channel interferenceand SNR gains for wireless clients. Cisco’s AI-RRM deployment guidance also identifies AP radio distribution and utilization analysis as critical for minimizing co-channel interference and optimizing wireless performance.

Therefore, option B is the only operational outcome aligned with AI-RRM’s purpose. Reference topic:Automation and AI — Cisco Catalyst Center AI-RRM, RF analytics, RRM automation, channel optimization, and wireless AIOps.

An RTS frame is an 802.11control frameused in the Request to Send/Clear to Send exchange. Cisco identifies RTS as a Request to Send frame and explains that 802.11 control frames assist in delivering data frames between stations. Cisco further states that the RTS/CTS function is optional, helps reduce collisions when hidden stations are associated to the same access point, and that a station sends an RTS frame as the first phase before transmitting a data frame.

Therefore, option B is correct because the RTS frame requests access to the wireless medium before data transmission. If the receiving station or AP replies with CTS, nearby stations defer transmission based on the duration information, reducing collision probability. This is especially relevant in hidden-node environments where two clients can hear the AP but cannot hear each other. Option A refers to RF spectral-mask compliance, which is a physical-layer regulatory concept. Option C confuses NAV behavior with roaming; RTS/CTS may influence virtual carrier sensing, not client roaming updates. Option D is unrelated because frame compression is not an RTS function. Reference topics:802.11 frame types, control frames, RTS/CTS, CSMA/CA, hidden-node mitigation, and medium reservation.

WPA2-Personal authenticates clients with a preshared key, not with 802.1X. Cisco documents WPA/WPA2 as supporting multiple authentication methods, including 802.1X and PSK, and specifically states that when PSK is selected, a preshared key or passphrase must be configured. The configuration element that enables client authentication in this scenario is the PSK ASCII key function represented by option D. On Catalyst 9800 IOS XE, the PSK method is enabled with PSK authentication key management, and the passphrase is defined withsecurity wpa psk set-key {ascii | hex} {0 | 8} password; Cisco’s example issecurity wpa psk set-key ascii 0 test.

Option A disables 802.1X AKM, which is appropriate for Personal mode, but it does not by itself authenticate clients. Option B controls DHCP proxy behavior and has no role in WPA authentication. Option C enables AES for WPA2 encryption, which protects traffic confidentiality but does not supply the authentication secret. Reference topics:Client Connectivity Configuration — WPA2-Personal, PSK authentication, AKM selection, AES encryption, and Catalyst 9800 WLAN security configuration.

The correct method issoftware image management workflows, specifically Cisco Catalyst Center Software Image Management, commonly referenced as SWIM. Cisco documents SWIM as the mechanism used to manage software upgrades and maintain consistency of image versions across the network. It provides an image repository, golden-image assignment, image distribution, activation, readiness checks, and scheduled execution. Cisco’s wireless automation guidance specifically states that SWIM is used to update Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller software by distributing the image from the Catalyst Center repository to wireless controllers and upgrading the images running on those controllers; both stages can run immediately or be scheduled for a defined maintenance window.

Option C is also validated by Catalyst Center’s update-status and workflow views. Cisco documentsImage Update Statusas the view that shows all update tasks, filters by in-progress, success, or failure, and displays a progress bar for active updates. The workflow view then exposes distribution and activation task status, timing, prechecks, postchecks, checksum verification, and AP pre-image download details. Inventory snapshots and templates do not execute controller firmware upgrades, and “lifecycle workflow” is too generic. Reference topics:Wireless Monitoring and Management — Catalyst Center SWIM, image compliance, golden images, controller upgrade automation, and update progress reporting.

The correct command issecurity dot1x authentication-list RADIUS_AUTH_LIST. On a Catalyst 9800 WLC, the WLAN configuration must bind the WLAN’s 802.1X authentication process to an AAA authentication method list. Cisco’s Catalyst 9800 802.1X configuration workflow shows the WLAN entered with wlan < profile-name > < wlan-id > < ssid-name > , followed by the command security dot1x authentication-list < dot1x-list-name > . Cisco configuration guide examples also show the same syntax under WLAN configuration mode as Device(config-wlan)# security dot1x authentication-list auth-list-name.

In the exhibit, security wpa akm dot1x enables 802.1X as the key-management method, while security wpa wpa2 and security wpa wpa2 ciphers aes establish WPA2/AES security. These statements define the WLAN security framework, but they do not identify which AAA method list will be used to reach the RADIUS backend. The missing command must therefore attach the named authentication list RADIUS_AUTH_LIST to dot1x authentication. Options A, B, and C are parser-invalid or incorrectly ordered IOS XE syntax. Reference topic:Client Connectivity Configuration — WPA2-Enterprise WLAN configuration, 802.1X authentication, AAA method lists, RADIUS-backed client access, and Catalyst 9800 WLAN security commands.

When deploying Meraki APs, it is essential to claim each AP in the Meraki dashboard to ensure that they are automatically assigned to the correct network and can be managed remotely. This process involves registering the APs with the Meraki cloud, which is done by adding the AP serial numbers to the network within the Meraki dashboard before physically installing them at the branch.

Option B: "Add the AP serial numbers to the required network within the Meraki dashboard."This is the correct answer. Before the APs are physically connected, the administrator needs to log into the Meraki dashboard and add the serial numbers of the new APs to the intended network. This ensures that once the APs are powered on and connected, they automatically join the correct network and are ready for monitoring and management without requiring further configuration.

Option A: "Activate mesh networking mode for all the new APs before installation."Mesh networking mode is used when APs need to communicate wirelessly to extend coverage, but it is not a requirement for the deployment and registration process. The APs should be connected normally for initial setup, and mesh mode can be enabled later if needed.

Option C: "Preconfigure SSID names and VLAN tags on the local page of each AP in the Meraki dashboard."While configuring SSID and VLAN settings is essential, this is not the first action required for ensuring the APs are claimed by the correct network. The priority is to add the AP serial numbers to the Meraki dashboard for proper network assignment.

Option D: "Create a separate DHCP scope for all the new APs on the local server."DHCP scope configuration is important for assigning IP addresses, but this is not the primary step for ensuring the APs are correctly registered in the Meraki dashboard. The APs can obtain IP addresses from an existing DHCP scope once they are connected and claimed in the dashboard.

Therefore, the best approach isOption B, as it ensures that the APs are correctly assigned to the intended network in the Meraki cloud, ready for management and monitoring once connected.

Meraki AP onboarding is designed around cloud-initiated registration, not manual controller discovery. A Meraki AP must obtain network reachability, resolve Meraki cloud services, and establish outbound connectivity to the Meraki dashboard. Cisco Meraki documentation states that the dashboard provides centralized management and that, for dashboard management, a Meraki device must communicate with the Cisco Meraki cloud over a secure tunnel. The MR quick-start process further describes that, after power-on, the AP requests an IP address by DHCP, reaches the Meraki cloud through the Internet, and checks in to the dashboard.

Therefore, the required action is to connect the APs to a network with Internet access and permit the necessary outbound firewall flows to Meraki cloud services. A site-to-site VPN is unnecessary for dashboard discovery. Static management addressing may be used in constrained environments, but it increases manual work and is not required for automatic registration. DHCP lease-table serial registration is not a Meraki onboarding mechanism. Reference topics:Wireless Network Implementation — Meraki AP cloud onboarding, DHCP/DNS reachability, outbound firewall policy, and dashboard-based AP lifecycle management.

In RF communications,propagation delayrefers to the finite time required for a signal to travel from the transmitter to the receiver over a given medium. This delay depends on the distance between the endpoints and the speed at which electromagnetic waves propagate through the medium, typically close to the speed of light in air (approximately 3 × 10⁸ m/s). Propagation delay is fundamental in calculating network latency, timing synchronization in protocols, and designing wireless coverage, especially in large-scale enterprise networks.

Reflection (option A) occurs when RF waves encounter surfaces and bounce back, potentially causing multipath interference. Scattering (option C) refers to signal dispersion caused by small objects or irregularities in the medium, which affects signal quality but not the direct travel time. Link speed (option D) represents the maximum data rate supported by a wireless link and is unrelated to the time taken for the signal to propagate.

Cisco wireless design guides emphasize propagation delay considerations when planning high-density deployments, especially in large campuses or long-range point-to-point links, to ensure timing-sensitive applications (e.g., VoIP, video conferencing) maintain acceptable performance. Propagation delay must be factored into QoS and RF design decisions to minimize latency and optimize throughput. Reference topic:RF Fundamentals — signal propagation, latency, multipath effects, and timing in wireless networks.

Device sensitivity in a wireless environment refers to receiver sensitivity: the minimum RF signal level a client or AP radio must receive to successfully detect, demodulate, and decode a transmission. Cisco defines receiver sensitivity as the minimum signal power level, expressed in dBm or mW, required for a receiver to accurately decode a given signal. Cisco RF design guidance further states that sensitivity indicates the lowest received power before the receiver considers the signal unintelligible.

Therefore, option A is correct because sensitivity is fundamentally about the radio’s capability to process a received signal at low power levels. A more sensitive receiver can decode weaker frames, improving effective coverage and receive performance, provided the signal-to-noise ratio and interference conditions remain acceptable. Cisco also notes that individual device sensitivity determines how well a device can hear and demodulate RF energy, which directly affects contention behavior and WLAN performance in dense environments. Redundant gateways, beacon interval synchronization, and key refresh schedules are Layer 3 availability, 802.11 timing, and security-key management topics; they do not define RF receiver sensitivity. Reference topics:RF Fundamentals — receiver sensitivity, RSSI, dBm, SNR, demodulation, and WLAN coverage behavior.