PowerOn Auto Provisioning (POAP) Required Network Infrastructure

350-601 By islever Editorial Last updated Sep 29, 2026

Evaluate automation and orchestration technologies

Short answer

CD A SCP file repository and a TFTP script server.

Question

A company with a small network team purchases 10 Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches for a network refresh. Some elements of the existing network infrastructure will be retained including DHCP and DNS servers. The company wants the network team to use PowerOn Auto Provisioning (POAP) to configure the switches, but the team only has experience with manual configuration. Which two additional network infrastructure components must be configured to use POAP? (Choose two.)

NETBOOT host discovery
GIT server
SCP file repository Correct Answer
TFTP script server Correct Answer
SNMP trap receiver

Key Takeaways

POAP network requirements: a DHCP server (IP/gateway/DNS), a TFTP server holding the configuration script, and one or more file servers holding the software image and config (SCP is the default transfer protocol in the Cisco POAP script). NETBOOT, GIT, and SNMP are not POAP requirements.

POAP boots a new switch with no startup config, finds a DHCP server, downloads a configuration script from a TFTP server, and pulls software images and config from a file server (SCP/FTP/SFTP/HTTP). Beyond DHCP/DNS, you must provide a TFTP script server and a file repository (e.g., SCP).

Common mistake: Picking NETBOOT host discovery (A), a GIT server (B), or an SNMP trap receiver (E) — none are POAP components. The two required additional components are the TFTP script server and the SCP (file) repository.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

Cisco POAP requires: a DHCP server to bootstrap addressing; a TFTP server containing the configuration script; and one or more file servers (the Cisco sample script uses SCP by default) holding the software image and configuration. So a SCP file repository (C) and a TFTP script server (D) are the two additional components.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

A. NETBOOT host discovery is not a POAP element. B. A GIT server is unrelated. E. An SNMP trap receiver is not part of POAP infrastructure. DHCP (provided) and DNS are the only other requirements, already assumed.

Community Comment Notes

Community: "SCP & TFTP seem the most likely answers"; DevNet POAP: "A TFTP server that contains the configuration script... One or more servers that contains the desired software images and configuration files" (SCP is the default in the script). Votes CD 100.

Official Reference

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/dcn/nx-os/nexus9000/102x/configuration/fundamentals/cisco-nexus-9000-nx-os-fundamentals-configuration-guide-102x/m-using-poap.html

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

Community Votes

100%

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

Discussion 4 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 4

joncursio 👍 1

SCP & of course TFTP seem the most likely answers - no reference to NETBOOT,GIT,SNMP from looking at cisco docs but SCP is a default protocol
Eduardo7v 👍 1

A & D NETBOOT host discovery: This allows the switch to locate the TFTP server and obtain the configuration file.
57ud3n7 👍 1

https://developer.cisco.com/docs/nx-os/poap-process/
8d00f64 👍 1

C & D - correct.

Reader comments & corrections

No reader corrections yet — spotted an error or have a note? Share it below.

← Back to 350-601 Study Guide