Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What Cisco IOS feature can be enabled to pinpoint an application that is causing slow network performance?

1. Netflow

2. Packet Tracer

3. QoS Policy

4. Routing Protocol

The correct answer is: Netflow

NetFlow is a powerful Cisco IOS feature that provides the ability to monitor and analyze network traffic flow. By enabling NetFlow on network devices, administrators can gather detailed statistics about traffic patterns and volumes, as well as identify which applications are consuming bandwidth. This capability is essential for diagnosing slow network performance, as it allows for the tracking of specific flows and the analysis of application usage over time. NetFlow helps pinpoint troublesome applications by providing visibility into factors such as protocols in use, IP addresses of communicating devices, and the volume of traffic created by particular applications. This data is invaluable when troubleshooting or optimizing network performance, as it reveals where congestion is occurring and which applications are resource-intensive. The other options, while relevant to networking, do not directly provide the same level of visibility into application performance. For instance, Packet Tracer is a network simulation tool used for educational purposes and does not provide live network monitoring capability. QoS Policies focus on managing traffic prioritization rather than analyzing which applications cause slowdowns. Routing Protocols are concerned with the paths that data takes through a network rather than the performance impact of specific applications. Thus, NetFlow stands out as the most effective choice for identifying applications responsible for slow network performance.