350-401 Question #933: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

Submitted by tunde_lagos· Mar 6, 2026Network Fundamentals - Understanding the architectural separation between the control plane and data plane in network devices, including where routing protocol information is processed and where packet forwarding occurs (relevant to CCNA, CCNP, and similar Cisco certification tracks)

Question

Drag and Drop Question Drag and drop the characteristics from the left onto the deployment models on the right. Not all options are used. Answer:

Explanation

In network device architecture, the data plane (forwarding plane) operates at the line card level, using hardware-based forwarding tables (like FIB/CEF) to switch packets at wire speed - this is where actual packet forwarding happens. The control plane, by contrast, operates at the route processor/CPU level and is responsible for running routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, etc.) that build and maintain routing tables, which are then derived/downloaded to populate the data plane's forwarding tables. These two planes represent the fundamental separation of 'how to forward' (control) versus 'actually forwarding' (data) in modern network devices.

Topics

#Control Plane vs Data Plane#Network Device Architecture#CEF/Forwarding Tables#Routing Protocols

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