20 NETCONF Interview Questions and Answers

NETCONF is a network configuration protocol that allows for the remote management and configuration of network devices. It is a popular protocol for network administrators and engineers who want to automate the management of their network. If you are interviewing for a position that involves the use of NETCONF, it is important to be prepared to answer questions about the protocol. In this article, we will review some of the most common NETCONF interview questions.

NETCONF Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked NETCONF interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. Can you explain what NETCONF is?

NETCONF is a network management protocol that uses an XML configuration schema to manage network devices. It is typically used in conjunction with the YANG data modeling language.

2. What are the main components of NETCONF?

The main components of NETCONF are the client, server, and data store. The client is responsible for making requests to the server, which then processes those requests and updates the data store accordingly. The data store is a repository of all the configuration data for the network devices that are being managed by NETCONF.

3. Why do we need a network configuration protocol like NETCONF?

NETCONF is important because it provides a standard way for devices to communicate with each other and exchange configuration information. This is important in ensuring that devices from different vendors can interoperate and work together in a network.

4. How does NETCONF work with YANG models?

NETCONF uses YANG models to define the data that can be manipulated and retrieved by NETCONF clients and servers. YANG models provide a structure for this data that can be used by both NETCONF clients and servers to understand the data that is being exchanged.

5. What are some key benefits of using NETCONF?

NETCONF provides a number of benefits, including a standard way to manage network devices, a standard data model for network configuration, and a standard protocol for communication between network devices and management systems. This makes it easier to manage network devices from different vendors, and to automate network management tasks.

6. What are some use cases for NETCONF?

NETCONF is a network management protocol that is used to manage network devices. It can be used to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot network devices.

7. What’s the difference between RESTCONF and NETCONF?

RESTCONF is a newer protocol that uses HTTP for transport, while NETCONF uses a more traditional RPC-based approach. RESTCONF also has a more comprehensive data model, which makes it easier to work with.

8. What are the different operation types supported by NETCONF?

NETCONF supports four different operation types: get, get-config, edit-config, and commit. The get operation allows you to retrieve information from a remote device, while get-config allows you to retrieve the configuration of a remote device. The edit-config operation allows you to modify the configuration of a remote device, while the commit operation allows you to apply the changes made with the edit-config operation.

9. Is it possible to query all data nodes in a tree at once without specifying them individually? If yes, how would you do that?

Yes, it is possible to query all data nodes in a tree at once without specifying them individually. You can do this by using the “*” character in your XPath query. For example, if you wanted to query all of the data nodes in a tree, you could use the following XPath query: “//*”.

10. Is it possible to disable authentication while accessing the NETCONF server?

No, it is not possible to disable authentication while accessing the NETCONF server. All users who attempt to connect to the NETCONF server will be required to authenticate themselves before they are able to access any data or make any changes.

11. What are the different ways to get a list of the available modules on a given device?

There are a few different ways to get a list of the available modules on a given device. One way is to use the “get-modules” operation. This will return a list of all the modules that are available on the device. Another way is to use the “get-config” operation with a filter that specifies the “module” element. This will return a list of all the modules that are currently configured on the device.

12. How can you check if a certain module is present on a target device?

You can use the “get-schema” operation to check if a certain module is present on a target device.

13. What is the best way to retrieve information about a specific node from an XML file?

The best way to retrieve information about a specific node from an XML file is to use the XPath expression language. With XPath, you can specify exactly which node you want to select, and then retrieve information about that node.

14. What is the best way to resolve merge conflicts when merging branches in Git?

The best way to resolve merge conflicts when merging branches in Git is to use the “git rebase” command. This command will allow you to take the changes from one branch and apply them on top of another branch. This can help to resolve conflicts by keeping the history of your codebase linear.

15. How can you find out which branch your current head points to?

You can find out which branch your current head points to by running the “git branch” command.

16. How do you pull changes from another branch into your active branch?

To pull changes from another branch into your active branch, you will need to use the “git pull” command. This command will fetch the changes from the remote branch and then attempt to merge them into your current branch.

17. How do you delete a local or remote branch in git?

To delete a local branch in git, you can use the “git branch -d” command. To delete a remote branch, you can use the “git push origin –delete” command.

18. Which command allows you to see all merged branches in Git?

The command “git branch -a” will show you all merged branches in Git.

19. What is the best way to create a new branch based on master?

The best way to create a new branch based on master is to use the git checkout command. This command will allow you to create a new branch that is based off of the master branch.

20. How often should you create commits in a project?

This is a difficult question to answer, as it depends on the project and the team’s preferences. However, as a general rule of thumb, it is a good idea to create commits regularly, especially if you are working on a project with multiple people. This way, everyone can stay up to date on the project’s progress and avoid merge conflicts.