Cisco CCNA (200-301)IP ServicesMedium

A network administrator is reviewing the syslog messages on a Cisco router and observes the following output: `%SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console` `%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface GigabitEthernet0/1, changed state to up` `%LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface GigabitEthernet0/0, changed state to down` Which of the following statements is true regarding these syslog messages?

  1. AThe message `%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN` indicates a severity level of 'alert'.
  2. BThe message `%SYS-5-CONFIG_I` indicates a severity level of 'informational'.
  3. CThe message `%SYS-5-CONFIG_I` indicates a severity level of 'warning'.
  4. DThe message `%LINK-3-UPDOWN` indicates a severity level of 'error'.
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D. The message `%LINK-3-UPDOWN` indicates a severity level of 'error'.

Cisco syslog messages use a numerical severity level. Level 3 corresponds to 'Error'. Level 5 corresponds to 'Notification'. Therefore, `%LINK-3-UPDOWN` indicates an error, and `%SYS-5-CONFIG_I` indicates a notification, not a warning or informational.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Severity level 5 is 'Notification', not 'Alert' (which is level 1).
  • B. Severity level 5 is 'Notification', not 'Informational' (which is level 6). While 'notification' and 'informational' are similar in meaning, Cisco's specific term for level 5 is 'notification'.
  • C. Severity level 5 is 'Notification', not 'Warning' (which is level 4).

Cisco Syslog Severity Levels

A standardized scale (0-7) used in Cisco IOS syslog messages to indicate the criticality or severity of an event.

  • 0 is Emergency (most severe), 7 is Debugging (least severe).
  • Number appears after the facility code in the message.
  • Helps filter and prioritize log messages.

Memory trick: The 'number' in syslog is like a 'pain scale' – lower means more urgent!

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