Dedicated Control-Plane Nodes for Frequent Endpoint Roaming

300-420 By islever Editorial Last updated

Describe SD-Access fabric design considerations for wired and wireless access (overlay, fabric design, control plan design, border design, segmentation, virtual networks, scalability, over the top and fabric for wireless, multicast)

Short answer

B Dedicated control-plane nodes are advised for frequent endpoint roaming across fabric edges, so the mapping database scales and roaming is efficient.

Question

When is it advisable to provide dedicated control plane nodes within a Cisco SD-Access design?
  1. in a small deployment where border nodes are not required
  2. when there is a requirement for frequent roaming of endpoints across fabric edge nodes Correct Answer
  3. in designs without Cisco DNA Center
  4. in a design where fabric edge nodes are unable to provide control plane functionality

Key Takeaways

Dedicated CP nodes = scalability + roaming support. Frequent roaming (B) is the trigger; a small stable deployment or 'no DNA Center' are not reasons to add dedicated CP nodes.

Cisco SD-Access recommends dedicated control-plane (CP) nodes when the design needs to scale the host-to-location mapping database and support features like frequent endpoint roaming across fabric edge nodes. In small, stable deployments the edge nodes can hold the CP function.

Common mistake: Picking A/C/D: small deployments (A) and designs without DNA Center (C) do not call for dedicated CP nodes; edge nodes unable to provide CP (D) is not the normal trigger — frequent roaming (B) is.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

B is correct. Cisco recommends dedicated control-plane nodes when endpoints roam frequently across fabric edge nodes, because the CP holds the host-to-location mapping database and dedicated nodes let it scale and handle roaming efficiently.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A (small deployment without border nodes) and C (no DNA Center) are not triggers for dedicated CP nodes; in small stable designs the edge nodes can serve as CP. D (edge nodes unable to provide CP) is not the typical design driver — frequent roaming is.

Community Comment Notes

The vote is B (100). Commenters cite the SDA design guide: dedicated CP nodes are recommended for scalability and frequent endpoint roaming across fabric edges.

Official Reference

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/enterprise-networks/software-defined-access.html

This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Community Votes

B
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer B. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 3 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 3

  1. PicoOstrava 👍 3 Answered B
    The correct answer is: B. when there is a requirement for frequent roaming of endpoints across fabric edge nodes Explanation: In Cisco SD-Access, dedicated control plane nodes are recommended when there is a need for scalability and to support features like frequent roaming of endpoints. This ensures that the control plane can manage the mapping database efficiently, avoiding potential performance issues that might arise if control plane functionality were distributed across fabric edge nodes. Option D (in a design where fabric edge nodes are unable to provide control plane functionality) could also seem relevant, but the best answer for scalability and optimal performance, especially for endpoint mobility, is B.
  2. Swiz005 👍 3 Answered B
    Answer is B Source - https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/solutions/CVD/Campus/cisco-sda-design-guide.html#:~:text=One%20other%20consideration,should%20be%20used.
  3. muffedtrims 👍 2 Answered B
    Answer is B after reading Swiz005 source

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