700-821 Sample Questions

700-821 Sample Questions & Answers

The industrial switch portfolio and its power options carry the most weight, alongside the IoT Operations Dashboard paired with Edge Device Manager, SD-WAN support through industrial routing and gateways, and backhaul-equipped industrial wireless access points.

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  1. Question 1Beginner

    Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switching · Describe the capabilities of Industrial Switches

    True or False: The Device Level Ring (DLR) protocol is a Cisco-proprietary protocol designed for high-speed convergence in industrial ring topologies.

    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: B

    This statement is false. The Device Level Ring (DLR) protocol is an open standard managed by the ODVA (Open DeviceNet Vendor Association) and is part of the EtherNet/IP specification. It is not Cisco-proprietary, although Cisco IE switches support it to ensure interoperability in automation and control networks.

  2. Question 2Intermediate

    Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switching · Describe the Industrial Switches Portfolio

    A company is automating its port-side container handling with autonomous cranes that generate significant shock and vibration. A ruggedized network switch is required inside each crane's control cabinet. Which Cisco IE switch series is specifically designed and certified to withstand these harsh shock and vibration conditions?

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    Correct answer: C

    The Cisco IE 5000 series switches are built to exceed the specifications of most industrial switches and are certified for harsh environments, including high shock and vibration. They are often used in demanding applications like rail, military, and heavy industry, making them the ideal choice for installation in a crane's control cabinet.

  3. Question 3Advanced

    Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switching · Describe the Industrial Switches Portfolio

    A food processing company is upgrading its factory floor network. The current network is flat, unmanaged, and experiences frequent broadcast storms that cause production halts.

    The new design must meet several key requirements. First, the network must be highly resilient to link failures, with a recovery time of less than 20 milliseconds. Second, traffic from the control network (PLCs, VFDs) must be strictly isolated from the data collection network (sensors, IP cameras). Third, the solution must support Power over Ethernet (PoE+) to power new IP cameras and access points. Finally, the chosen switches must be DIN-rail mountable and tolerate operating temperatures up to 60°C.

    Which solution best meets all the company's requirements?

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    Correct answer: B

    This solution meets all requirements. The Cisco IE 3300 series supports REP for fast convergence (<50ms, often much faster), which satisfies the resiliency requirement. VLANs provide robust traffic isolation at Layer 2. The IE 3300 models offer PoE+ ports, are DIN-rail mountable, and have an operating temperature range that meets the 60°C requirement. This is a comprehensive and appropriate industrial networking solution.

  4. Question 4Intermediate

    Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switching · Explain the power supply options for Industrial Switch

    A technician connects a new PoE-enabled IP camera to a Cisco IE 3300 switch, but the camera fails to power on. The switch port is administratively up, and the cable is tested and known to be good. The technician checks the switch logs and sees a 'PD Disconnected' message for that port. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

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    Correct answer: B

    When a switch denies power to a new Powered Device (PD), the most common reason is that the switch's total available PoE budget has been exceeded by the existing devices. The switch will not power a new device if doing so would surpass its power supply's capacity. The 'PD Disconnected' message can indicate the switch detected the device but could not allocate power.

  5. Question 5Beginner

    Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switching · Describe the capabilities of Industrial Switches

    What is the primary function of the swappable SD card on a Cisco Industrial Ethernet switch like the IE 3400?

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    Correct answer: C

    The main purpose of the SD card on Cisco IE switches is to store the device's configuration file. This allows for rapid, zero-touch replacement. If a switch fails, an operator can simply move the SD card from the failed unit to a new, identical unit. The new switch will boot up with the stored configuration, minimizing downtime.

  6. Question 6Intermediate

    Cisco Industrial Wireless · Describe the capabilities of IW9167

    A fleet of Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in a large warehouse requires seamless and reliable wireless connectivity as they move between access points. The AGVs use latency-sensitive applications for navigation and collision avoidance. The warehouse currently uses an older 802.11n network. Which Cisco Industrial Wireless access point and feature are best suited to upgrade this environment?

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    Correct answer: B

    The IW9167 supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which offers significant advantages for this use case. OFDMA and BSS Coloring in Wi-Fi 6 improve spectral efficiency and performance in dense environments, reducing latency. Additionally, Cisco's implementation on the IW9167 includes features for reliable roaming, making it the best choice for mobile clients like AGVs that require persistent, low-latency connections.

  7. Question 7Beginner

    Cisco Industrial Wireless · Describe the capabilities of IW9167

    In a high-density industrial environment with hundreds of small IoT sensors sending sporadic, small packets of data, which Wi-Fi 6 feature, supported by the Cisco IW9167, is most beneficial for improving network efficiency and reducing channel contention?

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    Correct answer: C

    OFDMA is a key feature of Wi-Fi 6 that allows an access point to communicate with multiple clients simultaneously by subdividing a channel into smaller resource units (RUs). This is extremely efficient for IoT use cases where many devices send small packets, as it significantly reduces overhead and contention compared to the OFDM method used in previous standards, where only one client could transmit at a time.

  8. Question 8Advanced

    Cisco Industrial Wireless · Describe Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul Solution

    A seaport is automating its ship-to-shore cranes and requires a wireless network to provide connectivity for control and video data. The connection must be highly reliable, offer fiber-like latency (<1ms), and support seamless handoffs as the cranes move along a 1km rail.

    The key requirements are zero packet loss during handoffs, deterministic low latency, and high bandwidth to support multiple high-definition video streams. The environment is challenging, with significant metal structures and potential RF interference.

    Which Cisco wireless solution is specifically engineered to meet these stringent requirements for moving assets?

    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Cisco URWB is the ideal solution for this scenario. It is purpose-built for connecting high-speed moving assets with ultra-low latency and zero packet loss. Its make-before-break roaming ensures seamless handoffs between track-side radios. The technology provides the deterministic performance required for critical control applications, which standard Wi-Fi mesh or cellular technologies typically cannot guarantee.

  9. Question 9Intermediate

    Cisco Industrial Wireless · Describe the capabilities of IW6300

    An engineer is deploying a Cisco IW6300 access point in an open-pit mine. The AP will be mounted on a pole to provide coverage for vehicles in the area. The environment is dusty and subject to extreme temperatures. Which consideration is most critical when selecting antennas for this deployment?

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    Correct answer: C

    For an outdoor industrial deployment like a mine, the environmental rating of the antenna is paramount. An IP67 rating ensures it is dust-tight and can withstand water immersion, while a wide operating temperature range ensures it can function in both extreme heat and cold. While gain and radiation pattern are important, the antenna will fail if it is not physically built to survive the environment.

  10. Question 10Beginner

    Cisco Industrial Wireless · Describe the capabilities of IW6300

    True or False: The Cisco IW6300 Heavy Duty Access Point comes with a Class 1, Division 2 (C1D2) certification, making it suitable for deployment in hazardous locations like oil and gas refineries without requiring an external enclosure.

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    Correct answer: A

    This statement is true. The Cisco IW6300 is specifically designed for hazardous locations and carries certifications like C1D2 and ATEX Zone 2. This allows it to be installed directly in environments where flammable gases or vapors may be present, without the need for a bulky and expensive NEMA enclosure.

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