350-401 Question #896: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is A: Southbound API. In a Cisco Software Defined Networking (SDN) architecture, the communication between the SDN controller and the network elements is defined by the Southbound API.

Submitted by thandi_sa· Mar 6, 2026

Question

In a Cisco Software Defined Networking (SDN) architecture, what is used to describe the API communication between the SDN controller and the network elements (routers and switches) that it manages?

Options

ASouthbound API
BNorthbound API
CWestbound API
DEastbound API.

Explanation

In a Cisco Software Defined Networking (SDN) architecture, the communication between the SDN controller and the network elements is defined by the Southbound API.

Common mistakes.

B. Northbound APIs define the communication interface between the SDN controller and applications or orchestration systems, enabling higher-level service requests.
C. Westbound APIs refer to communication between different SDN controllers within the same domain, typically for synchronization or service chaining.
D. Eastbound APIs refer to communication between different SDN controllers within the same domain, similar to Westbound APIs.

Concept tested. SDN API types (Southbound API)

Reference. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/data-center-virtualization/application-centric-infrastructure/white-paper-c11-739989.html

Topics

#SDN architecture#SDN controller#Southbound API

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