Implementing Cisco Service Provider VPN Services (SPVI) Practice Exam
Are you preparing for the Cisco SPVI certification? Our Implementing Cisco Service Provider VPN Services (SPVI) Practice Exam is designed to help you master the essential concepts and skills required to pass the official exam with confidence.
What Is the SPVI Exam?
The Cisco SPVI exam validates your expertise in implementing and managing VPN services across Cisco service provider networks. It focuses on MPLS-based VPN technologies, Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPNs, routing protocols, and VPN security. This certification is ideal for network professionals working in service provider environments who want to demonstrate their ability to design and deploy scalable, secure VPN solutions.
What You Will Learn
This practice exam covers all the critical topics you need to understand, including:
MPLS fundamentals and label distribution protocols
Configuration and troubleshooting of Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPNs
Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) and Route Target concepts
BGP VPNv4 address family and route reflectors
Traffic engineering and MPLS Quality of Service (QoS)
Security considerations and VPN management in service provider networks
By practicing with our carefully crafted questions and detailed explanations, you will gain a deeper understanding of these areas and improve your exam readiness.
Why Choose Exam Sage for SPVI Exam Preparation?
At Exam Sage, we provide expertly developed practice tests that mirror the format and difficulty of the actual Cisco SPVI exam. Our questions are updated to reflect the latest exam objectives and industry standards, ensuring you study relevant material. Each question includes clear explanations to help you learn from mistakes and solidify your knowledge.
With Exam Sage, you get:
Comprehensive coverage of all exam topics
Realistic practice questions with explanations
User-friendly interface for efficient studying
Trusted by networking professionals worldwide
Prepare smart, boost your confidence, and maximize your chances of passing the Implementing Cisco Service Provider VPN Services (SPVI) exam on your first attempt with Exam Sage.
Sample Questions and Answers
1. Which VPN technology is commonly used by service providers to offer Layer 2 VPN services over an MPLS backbone?
A) DMVPN
B) VPLS
C) GRE
D) IPsec
Answer: B) VPLS
Explanation: Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) is a Layer 2 VPN technology that allows service providers to offer Ethernet-based multipoint-to-multipoint VPN services over an MPLS backbone.
2. What is the primary function of the Route Distinguisher (RD) in MPLS VPNs?
A) Encrypt VPN traffic
B) Differentiate overlapping customer IP address spaces
C) Tunnel traffic through GRE
D) Provide QoS to VPN traffic
Answer: B) Differentiate overlapping customer IP address spaces
Explanation: The Route Distinguisher (RD) is used to create unique VPNv4 routes by distinguishing identical IP addresses from different customers.
3. Which MPLS label is used to identify the VPN route within the provider network?
A) Inner label (VPN label)
B) Outer label (Transport label)
C) Both inner and outer labels
D) None of the above
Answer: A) Inner label (VPN label)
Explanation: The inner label (VPN label) identifies the specific VPN route inside the provider’s MPLS network, while the outer label (transport label) directs the packet to the correct PE router.
4. In a BGP/MPLS VPN architecture, what is the purpose of the Route Target (RT)?
A) Encrypt VPN traffic
B) Control route import and export policies between VRFs
C) Assign MPLS labels
D) Manage bandwidth allocation
Answer: B) Control route import and export policies between VRFs
Explanation: Route Targets are extended BGP communities used to control which routes are imported or exported into/from a VRF.
5. Which routing protocol is most commonly used between the customer and the Provider Edge (PE) router in MPLS VPN deployments?
A) BGP
B) OSPF
C) EIGRP
D) Any of the above depending on the customer
Answer: D) Any of the above depending on the customer
Explanation: Service providers support multiple routing protocols between the customer edge (CE) and PE routers, depending on customer requirements.
6. What feature allows a PE router to maintain multiple instances of routing tables for different VPNs?
A) VRF
B) VRRP
C) MPLS
D) OSPF
Answer: A) VRF
Explanation: Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instances allow PE routers to maintain separate routing tables for each customer VPN.
7. In VPLS, what is the role of a Designated Forwarder (DF)?
A) Manage label distribution
B) Forward broadcast and unknown unicast frames on an Ethernet segment
C) Authenticate MPLS labels
D) Route IP traffic between VPN sites
Answer: B) Forward broadcast and unknown unicast frames on an Ethernet segment
Explanation: The Designated Forwarder is elected per Ethernet segment to prevent loops by controlling forwarding of broadcast and unknown unicast frames.
8. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of MPLS VPNs?
A) Scalability
B) QoS support
C) Encryption of all traffic by default
D) Traffic engineering capabilities
Answer: C) Encryption of all traffic by default
Explanation: MPLS VPNs do not provide encryption by default; encryption must be added separately (e.g., IPsec).
9. How does the PE router identify packets belonging to a specific VPN?
A) By examining the IP header source address
B) By using the MPLS VPN label
C) By encapsulating packets in GRE tunnels
D) By using VLAN tags
Answer: B) By using the MPLS VPN label
Explanation: The PE router uses the VPN label to identify and forward packets to the appropriate VPN.
10. Which command verifies the MPLS labels learned on a Cisco PE router?
A) show ip route
B) show mpls forwarding-table
C) show vpn routing-table
D) show ip bgp vpnv4 all
Answer: B) show mpls forwarding-table
Explanation: This command shows the MPLS label forwarding table with assigned labels and next hops.
11. What is the default VPNv4 address family in BGP used for MPLS VPNs?
A) IPv4 unicast
B) VPNv4 unicast
C) IPv6 unicast
D) L2VPN
Answer: B) VPNv4 unicast
Explanation: The VPNv4 address family is used to carry IPv4 routes with Route Distinguishers over BGP in MPLS VPNs.
12. What is a key characteristic of a Layer 3 MPLS VPN?
A) The provider participates in customer routing
B) The provider switches Ethernet frames without IP routing
C) Only Layer 2 forwarding is performed
D) Encryption is mandatory
Answer: A) The provider participates in customer routing
Explanation: In Layer 3 MPLS VPNs, the PE routers perform routing for the customer routes.
13. Which protocol is commonly used to distribute labels between PE and P routers in MPLS?
A) BGP
B) LDP
C) OSPF
D) IS-IS
Answer: B) LDP
Explanation: Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) is typically used to distribute MPLS labels between routers in the provider backbone.
14. In an MPLS VPN scenario, where is the label stack typically pushed?
A) On the CE router
B) At the ingress PE router
C) At the egress PE router
D) On the P router
Answer: B) At the ingress PE router
Explanation: The ingress PE router pushes the MPLS labels before sending packets into the MPLS core.
15. Which technology enables dynamic creation of VPN tunnels without pre-configured IPsec peers?
A) DMVPN
B) GRE tunnels
C) MPLS LDP
D) VPLS
Answer: A) DMVPN
Explanation: Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN) uses NHRP and IPsec to create dynamic VPN tunnels without static configuration.
16. What is the purpose of the MPLS Transport Label?
A) Identify the VPN route inside the MPLS network
B) Forward packets across the provider core to the egress PE router
C) Provide encryption for VPN packets
D) Assign QoS policies
Answer: B) Forward packets across the provider core to the egress PE router
Explanation: The transport label directs packets through the MPLS core to the correct PE router.
17. Which Cisco IOS feature allows multiple VPNs to coexist on the same PE router?
A) BGP Route Reflector
B) VRF Lite
C) MPLS TE
D) GRE Tunnels
Answer: B) VRF Lite
Explanation: VRF Lite is a Cisco IOS feature that allows multiple isolated routing instances on a router without MPLS.
18. How does a PE router learn routes from a CE router in an MPLS Layer 3 VPN?
A) Via static routes only
B) Through routing protocols such as BGP, OSPF, or static routes
C) Only through BGP
D) Through VLAN tagging
Answer: B) Through routing protocols such as BGP, OSPF, or static routes
Explanation: PE routers can learn routes from CE routers via various routing protocols or static routes depending on configuration.
19. Which of the following is TRUE about a VRF?
A) It is a physical interface
B) It isolates routing tables to provide VPN separation
C) It is a tunneling protocol
D) It encrypts VPN traffic
Answer: B) It isolates routing tables to provide VPN separation
Explanation: VRFs allow logically separate routing tables on the same router, providing VPN route isolation.
20. In MPLS VPNs, what does the term “next-hop self” refer to in BGP configuration?
A) The PE router modifies the next-hop attribute to itself when advertising routes to CE
B) The PE router disables next-hop advertisement
C) The CE router modifies the next-hop attribute to itself
D) The provider core changes the next-hop attribute
Answer: A) The PE router modifies the next-hop attribute to itself when advertising routes to CE
Explanation: PE routers use the next-hop self command to set their own IP as the next-hop for customer routes.
21. Which Cisco feature allows MPLS VPN customers to share the same IP subnet without overlap?
A) VRF
B) NAT
C) BGP Confederation
D) Route Distinguisher
Answer: D) Route Distinguisher
Explanation: Route Distinguishers prepend unique identifiers to customer IP routes, allowing overlap of IP addresses in different VPNs.
22. What does the command show bgp vpnv4 unicast all display?
A) All IPv4 routes learned via BGP
B) All VPNv4 routes learned and advertised in BGP
C) MPLS forwarding table
D) CE router routes
Answer: B) All VPNv4 routes learned and advertised in BGP
Explanation: This command shows the BGP VPNv4 routes for MPLS VPNs.
23. What is the role of a P (Provider) router in an MPLS VPN network?
A) Manage CE-to-PE routing
B) Forward MPLS labeled packets between PE routers
C) Maintain VRFs
D) Establish IPsec tunnels
Answer: B) Forward MPLS labeled packets between PE routers
Explanation: P routers are core routers that switch labeled packets through the MPLS backbone but do not maintain VPN routing information.
24. Which of the following is TRUE regarding MPLS VPN QoS support?
A) MPLS VPN does not support QoS
B) QoS policies can be applied on PE routers to prioritize VPN traffic
C) Only IPsec VPNs support QoS
D) MPLS VPN uses automatic QoS policies
Answer: B) QoS policies can be applied on PE routers to prioritize VPN traffic
Explanation: QoS can be configured on PE routers to prioritize certain VPN traffic classes.
25. What is the purpose of the ip vrf forwarding command on Cisco routers?
A) To enable MPLS label forwarding
B) To assign an interface to a specific VRF routing table
C) To configure IPsec encryption
D) To set up static routes
Answer: B) To assign an interface to a specific VRF routing table
Explanation: This command associates an interface with a VRF, isolating its routing instance.
26. How are VPN routes exchanged between PE routers in an MPLS VPN?
A) Via OSPF
B) Via BGP with extended communities
C) Via static routes
D) Via GRE tunnels
Answer: B) Via BGP with extended communities
Explanation: PE routers use BGP with Route Target extended communities to exchange VPN routes.
27. Which MPLS VPN feature allows traffic engineering and path control?
A) VRF
B) MPLS TE (Traffic Engineering)
C) GRE tunnels
D) IPsec
Answer: B) MPLS TE (Traffic Engineering)
Explanation: MPLS TE allows operators to direct traffic over specific paths in the MPLS network.
28. What is the function of the mpls ip command on an interface?
A) Enable MPLS forwarding on that interface
B) Assign MPLS labels manually
C) Configure IPsec encryption
D) Disable routing
Answer: A) Enable MPLS forwarding on that interface
Explanation: The mpls ip command activates MPLS label switching on the interface.
29. Which two components make up the MPLS VPN label stack?
A) VPN label and Transport label
B) Transport label and VLAN tag
C) VPN label and VLAN tag
D) Outer label and IP header
Answer: A) VPN label and Transport label
Explanation: The MPLS label stack typically contains an outer transport label and an inner VPN label.
30. Which of the following best describes the role of the CE router in an MPLS VPN?
A) Routes VPN traffic across the provider core
B) Connects the customer network to the provider edge and runs customer routing protocols
C) Maintains MPLS labels
D) Distributes BGP routes among providers
Answer: B) Connects the customer network to the provider edge and runs customer routing protocols
Explanation: The CE router interfaces with the customer network and communicates routing information with the PE router.
31. What is the primary purpose of the BGP Extended Community in MPLS VPNs?
A) To encrypt VPN traffic
B) To signal VPN route import and export policies
C) To establish MPLS label distribution
D) To create GRE tunnels
Answer: B) To signal VPN route import and export policies
Explanation: BGP Extended Communities (Route Targets) control which VPN routes are imported/exported between VRFs.
32. Which MPLS VPN component is responsible for encapsulating customer packets with MPLS labels?
A) P router
B) PE router
C) CE router
D) Core router
Answer: B) PE router
Explanation: The PE router adds MPLS labels to customer packets before forwarding them through the MPLS backbone.
33. What happens if two VRFs on a PE router have the same Route Target?
A) Their routes can be shared between the VRFs
B) Traffic will be dropped
C) MPLS label collisions occur
D) Routing loops form
Answer: A) Their routes can be shared between the VRFs
Explanation: Matching Route Targets allow route sharing and communication between VRFs.
34. Which label in an MPLS VPN is used by P routers to forward packets?
A) VPN label
B) Transport label
C) VPNv4 label
D) BGP label
Answer: B) Transport label
Explanation: P routers only use the outer transport label to forward packets through the MPLS core.
35. How is VPN route leaking between VRFs typically achieved?
A) Static routes only
B) Using Route Targets with import/export policies
C) GRE tunnels between VRFs
D) Using NAT
Answer: B) Using Route Targets with import/export policies
Explanation: Route Targets control route import/export between VRFs to enable selective route leaking.
36. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of L2VPN?
A) Customer controls routing
B) Transparent Layer 2 forwarding
C) Provider routes customer packets
D) Uses VPLS or VPWS
Answer: C) Provider routes customer packets
Explanation: In L2VPNs, the provider switches Ethernet frames without routing customer IP packets.
37. In a Layer 3 MPLS VPN, which routing table stores customer routes on the PE router?
A) Global routing table
B) VRF routing table
C) MPLS forwarding table
D) CE routing table
Answer: B) VRF routing table
Explanation: Customer routes are stored in VRF routing tables on the PE router.
38. What is the function of the ip vrf definition command?
A) Assign MPLS labels to VRFs
B) Create a VRF instance on the router
C) Enable BGP on VRFs
D) Configure CE router settings
Answer: B) Create a VRF instance on the router
Explanation: This command is used to create and define a VRF instance.
39. Which MPLS VPN component handles label swapping in the provider core?
A) PE router
B) CE router
C) P router
D) Customer router
Answer: C) P router
Explanation: Provider (P) routers swap MPLS labels to forward packets through the core.
40. What is the purpose of BGP route reflectors in MPLS VPNs?
A) To encrypt BGP routes
B) To reduce BGP peering complexity in large networks
C) To assign MPLS labels
D) To establish GRE tunnels
Answer: B) To reduce BGP peering complexity in large networks
Explanation: Route reflectors reduce the need for full mesh BGP peering between PE routers.
41. Which MPLS VPN component must support MPLS label switching?
A) CE router
B) PE router
C) P router
D) Customer router
Answer: C) P router
Explanation: P routers are core routers that perform MPLS label switching.
42. What type of VPN is created when multiple sites are connected with a single point-to-point Layer 2 connection?
A) VPLS
B) VPWS
C) DMVPN
D) IPsec VPN
Answer: B) VPWS
Explanation: Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS) creates point-to-point Layer 2 VPNs.
43. What is the role of the Next Hop in BGP/MPLS VPN?
A) Specifies the PE router IP reachable by CE routers
B) Specifies the CE router IP reachable by PE routers
C) Controls MPLS label distribution
D) Encrypts VPN traffic
Answer: A) Specifies the PE router IP reachable by CE routers
Explanation: The next hop attribute in BGP VPNv4 routes points to the PE router’s address for reachability.
44. In MPLS VPNs, which interface type is commonly assigned to a VRF?
A) Loopback interface
B) Physical or logical interfaces connected to the CE router
C) Tunnel interface only
D) Null interface
Answer: B) Physical or logical interfaces connected to the CE router
Explanation: Interfaces connected to the CE are assigned to VRFs for route separation.
45. What does the show ip vrf command display?
A) The global routing table
B) A list of configured VRFs and their details
C) MPLS label distribution
D) VPN traffic statistics
Answer: B) A list of configured VRFs and their details
Explanation: This command displays all VRFs configured on the router with associated interfaces.
46. Which encapsulation protocol is most commonly used inside MPLS VPNs for customer traffic?
A) IPsec
B) GRE
C) MPLS
D) L2TP
Answer: C) MPLS
Explanation: MPLS encapsulates customer traffic inside the provider network.
47. What mechanism prevents loops in VPLS networks?
A) MPLS labels
B) Designated Forwarder election
C) Static routing
D) IPsec encryption
Answer: B) Designated Forwarder election
Explanation: The DF election prevents loops by controlling frame forwarding on multi-homed segments.
48. Which technology allows multiple Layer 2 VPN instances over a single MPLS backbone?
A) VRF
B) VPLS
C) GRE
D) IPsec
Answer: B) VPLS
Explanation: VPLS supports multiple Layer 2 VPNs over MPLS.
49. What does the “rd” keyword stand for in VRF configuration?
A) Route Distinguisher
B) Route Distributor
C) Routing Descriptor
D) Route Domain
Answer: A) Route Distinguisher
Explanation: The “rd” is used to assign a unique identifier to a VRF for route differentiation.
50. How do PE routers identify the VPN to which a packet belongs?
A) By the source IP address
B) By the MPLS VPN label
C) By the destination MAC address
D) By the VLAN tag
Answer: B) By the MPLS VPN label
Explanation: The VPN label in the MPLS label stack identifies the packet’s VPN.
51. What type of BGP community is commonly used to control VPN route distribution?
A) Standard community
B) Extended community
C) Large community
D) No community
Answer: B) Extended community
Explanation: Extended communities (Route Targets) are used to control route import/export.
52. Which device terminates the MPLS VPN at the customer site?
A) PE router
B) CE router
C) P router
D) Core router
Answer: B) CE router
Explanation: The CE router is located at the customer premises and connects to the PE.
53. What is the significance of the “import” and “export” commands in VRF configuration?
A) To define interface assignments
B) To specify which Route Targets are imported or exported to/from a VRF
C) To enable MPLS on an interface
D) To configure IPsec
Answer: B) To specify which Route Targets are imported or exported to/from a VRF
Explanation: Import/export control route distribution policies between VRFs.
54. What is the benefit of using MPLS Traffic Engineering in service provider networks?
A) Simplifies routing configuration
B) Allows optimization of network resource utilization and path selection
C) Encrypts all traffic
D) Provides automatic VPN configuration
Answer: B) Allows optimization of network resource utilization and path selection
Explanation: MPLS TE enables explicit path control to optimize bandwidth use.
55. Which Cisco technology allows inter-VRF communication without leaking routes globally?
A) VRF-Lite route leaking
B) MPLS TE
C) BGP route reflector
D) GRE tunnels
Answer: A) VRF-Lite route leaking
Explanation: VRF-Lite route leaking selectively shares routes between VRFs without impacting global routing.
56. What is the primary purpose of the MPLS Label Edge Router (LER)?
A) Switch MPLS labels in the core
B) Assign and remove MPLS labels at the network edge
C) Encrypt MPLS packets
D) Manage VRF configurations
Answer: B) Assign and remove MPLS labels at the network edge
Explanation: LERs push and pop MPLS labels when packets enter or leave the MPLS domain.
57. Which protocol is commonly used for auto-discovery of VPN endpoints in Layer 2 VPNs?
A) BGP
B) LDP
C) BGP-based autodiscovery (BGP L2VPN)
D) OSPF
Answer: C) BGP-based autodiscovery (BGP L2VPN)
Explanation: BGP is used for VPN endpoint auto-discovery in Layer 2 VPNs.
58. How does the provider network handle overlapping IP addresses for different customers?
A) By using VLAN tagging
B) By using Route Distinguishers and VRFs
C) By NAT
D) By assigning unique IP addresses to all customers
Answer: B) By using Route Distinguishers and VRFs
Explanation: RD and VRFs allow overlapping IP addresses without conflict.
59. Which Cisco command shows MPLS VPN VRF details and associated interfaces?
A) show mpls interfaces
B) show ip vrf detail
C) show ip route vrf
D) show bgp vpnv4 unicast all
Answer: B) show ip vrf detail
Explanation: Displays detailed info about VRFs and interfaces.
60. What happens if a BGP VPN route has an invalid Route Target?
A) The route is rejected
B) The route is imported into all VRFs
C) The route causes a routing loop
D) The route is dropped silently
Answer: A) The route is rejected
Explanation: Routes with invalid Route Targets are not imported into VRFs.
