500-490 Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks (ENDESIGN) exam Questions and Answers

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 The current time in enterprise networking history is characterized by the rapid pace of change in the network technologies, architectures, and services. Some of the factors that contribute to this change are:

The increasing demand for network performance, scalability, reliability, security, and agility from the business and end users.

The emergence of new network paradigms, such as software-defined networking (SDN), network function virtualization (NFV), cloud networking, and intent-based networking (IBN).

The proliferation of network devices, applications, and data sources, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile devices, cloud services, big data, and artificial intelligence (AI).

The evolution of network standards, protocols, and best practices, such as IPv6, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet, and network automation.

These factors create new opportunities and challenges for enterprise network designers, engineers, and administrators, who need to keep up with the latest trends and innovations, and adapt their network solutions to the changing business and technical requirements.

References:

Cisco Enterprise Network Architecture and Design, https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/design-zone/networking-design-guides/enterprise-networking-design.html 1 : Enterprise Networking Explained: Types, Concepts & Trends, https://www.bmc.com/blogs/enterprise-networking/ 2 : What is enterprise networking?, https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/network-layer/enterprise-networking/ 3 : Enterprise WAN – A Brief History,https://blogs.juniper.net/en-us/enterprise-cloud-and-transformation/enterprise-wan-a-brief-history 4

The node that enables Cisco ISE to share contextual information on a device with Cisco Stealthwatch is the pXGrid Controller. The pXGrid Controller is a component of the ISE Policy Service Node (PSN) that facilitates the exchange of contextual data between ISE and other security products, such as Stealthwatch, via the Platform Exchange Grid (pxGrid) protocol. The pXGrid Controller acts as a broker that registers, authenticates, and authorizes pxGrid clients, and allows them to publish and subscribe to topics of interest. For example, Stealthwatch can subscribe to the Session Directory topic to obtain user and device information from ISE, and use it to enrich the network flow data and provide better visibility and security analytics. Stealthwatch can also publish topics, such as Rapid Threat Containment (RTC), to allow ISE to take mitigation actions on compromised endpoints, such as quarantine or re-authentication. References:

Cisco Identity Services Engine Administrator Guide, Release 2.4 - Manage Platform Exchange Grid Services [Cisco Identity Services Engine] - Cisco1

Deploying Cisco Stealthwatch 7.x with Cisco ISE 2.4 using pxGrid - Cisco Community2

Stealthwatch — Networking fun3

pxGrid in Depth > Sharing the Context | Cisco Press4

 Cisco SD-Access is a solution within Cisco DNA, which is built on intent-based networking principles. Cisco SD-Access provides visibility-based, automated end-to-end segmentation to separate user, device, and application traffic without redesigning the underlying physical network1. Cisco SD-Access also enables programmable overlays that allow network virtualization across the campus,branch, data center, and cloud2. Cisco SD-Access has two main components: the fabric and the policy3.

The fabric is the network overlay that consists of interconnected nodes that provide a consistent and scalable way of delivering network services and functions. The fabric nodes are classified into four types: edge nodes, border nodes, control plane nodes, and intermediate nodes. The edge nodes are the access switches or wireless controllers that connect to the end devices. The border nodes are the routers or switches that connect the fabric to external networks, such as the Internet, WAN, or data center. The control plane nodes are the routers or switches that maintain the mapping between the endpoint identifiers and the network locators. The intermediate nodes are the routers or switches that provide transit services within the fabric3.

The policy is the network configuration that defines the network behavior and outcomes, based on the business intent and requirements. The policy is composed of three elements: the endpoint groups, the contracts, and the virtual networks. The endpoint groups are the logical containers that group the endpoints based on their attributes, such as user identity, device type, or application. The contracts are the rules that specify the allowed interactions between the endpoint groups, such as the protocols, ports, and quality of service. The virtual networks are the logical partitions that isolate the endpoint groups and contracts from each other, based on the network scope and security3.

Cisco SD-Access addresses the following challenges and benefits:

It simplifies the network design and management, as it reduces the complexity and variability of the network elements and interfaces.

It enhances the network security and compliance, as it enforces granular and dynamic policies based on the endpoint identity and context, rather than the network topology and IP addresses.

It improves the network performance and user experience, as it optimizes the network path, load balancing, and traffic engineering based on the network conditions and application requirements.

It enables the network agility and scalability, as it supports the rapid deployment and integration of new devices, applications, and services, without affecting the existing network operations.

References:

Cisco Software-Defined Access - Cisco Software-Defined Access Solution Overview

What Is Software-Defined Access? - SD-Access - Cisco

Cisco SD-Access Architecture Overview

The overall health page of the assurance component in the Cisco DNA Center displays two primary categories: Client and Network1. The Client category shows the health score of all the wired and wireless clients connected to the network, along with the number of clients, the top issues affecting the clients, and the distribution of clients by type, OS, and SSID1. The Network category shows the health score of all the network devices, such as switches, routers, wireless controllers, and access points, along with the number of devices, the top issues affecting the devices, and the distribution of devices by site, family, and role1.

The other options are not primary categories on the overall health page. Server is not a category, but a type of client that can be filtered in the Client category1. Access-Distribution and Core are not categories, but roles of network devices that can be filtered in the Network category1. Wired is not a category, but a subcategory of the Client category that shows the health score of the wired clients only1.

References:

Cisco DNA Assurance User Guide, Release 1.3.1.0 - Monitor and Troubleshoot the Health of Your Network [Cisco DNA Center]

Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks (ENDESIGN) Exam Topics [Cisco]

Cisco Validated Design Guides [Cisco]

SD-Access - High Level Branch Design-Software Defined Access @ 0:34https://salesconnect.cisco.com/sc/s/learning-activity-from-plan?ltui__urlRecordId=a0c8c00000O0wmZAAR <ui__urlRedirect=learning-activity-from-plan<ui__parentUrl=

https://www.ciscolive.com/c/dam/r/ciscolive/apjc/docs/2020/pdf/BRKCRS-3493.pdf

When demonstrating Cisco Software-Defined Access (SDA), it's essential to tailor the presentation to highlight the strategic benefits and overall architecture without overwhelming the audience with excessive technical details. Two key recommendations for a successful SDA demonstration are:

Keep the demo at a high level (Option B):It's crucial to keep the demonstration focused on the overarching concepts and benefits rather than delving into the intricate technical details. This approach ensures that the audience, which may include decision-makers and non-technical stakeholders, can easily grasp the value and advantages of SDA. By presenting at a high level, you can effectivelycommunicate how SDA simplifies network management, enhances security, and supports digital transformation initiatives.

Show the customer how to integrate ISE into DNA Center at the end of the demo (Option E):Integrating Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) with Cisco DNA Center is a pivotal aspect of the SDA solution. Demonstrating this integration towards the end of the presentation allows you to showcase the seamless interoperability and added security benefits that ISE brings to the SDA environment. This part of the demo highlights how ISE enhances network access control, policy enforcement, and overall security management within the SDA framework.

References:

Cisco Software-Defined Access Solution Overview

Cisco DNA Center and ISE Integration Guide