CCIE Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Prep Resource

The correct standard for installing, manipulating, and deleting configuration of network devices is NETCONF. This protocol, which stands for Network Configuration Protocol, is designed specifically for managing network devices in a standardized, vendor-neutral manner. It provides a way to interact with network devices through a structured format, typically XML, which allows for operations such as configuring devices, retrieving configuration data, and managing device state.

NETCONF's architecture is built on the client-server model, where the client sends requests to the server (network device) and receives responses. This interaction is facilitated through a secure transport layer, often using SSH or TLS for secure communication. The protocol's use of formal data models enables automation and orchestration in network management, making it a critical standard in contemporary network operations.

RESTCONF, while similar and also used for network management, leverages RESTful principles and is designed for interacting with the same data models that NETCONF utilizes. SOAP, primarily used in web services, is not specifically tailored for network device configuration, and GraphQL is a query language that is primarily focused on APIs, rather than direct device management. Therefore, NETCONF is the most relevant and widely used standard for the tasks described in the question.