20+ practice questions focused on Administrative Distance — one of the most tested topics on the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation so you learn why the right answer is correct.
Start Administrative Distance PracticeA network engineer is troubleshooting a BGP route reachability issue. R1 learns the prefix 10.1.1.0/24 via eBGP from R2 with an AD of 20, and via OSPF from R3 with an AD of 110. The engineer notices that R1 installs the OSPF route in the routing table instead of the eBGP route, even though the eBGP route is preferred by default. What is the most likely cause of this behavior?
Explanation: The default administrative distance for eBGP is 20, and for OSPF is 110, so eBGP should be preferred. However, if the distance command is applied to the eBGP neighbor or the BGP process, it can increase the AD of eBGP routes, making them less preferred than OSPF.
An engineer is troubleshooting a network where R1 and R2 are running EIGRP, and R2 redistributes a static route for 192.168.1.0/24 into EIGRP. R1 also learns the same prefix via OSPF from R3 with an AD of 110. The engineer observes that R1 prefers the EIGRP external route (AD 170) over the OSPF route. What configuration change would cause this behavior?
Explanation: By default, EIGRP external routes have an AD of 170, and OSPF has AD 110, so OSPF should be preferred. If the EIGRP external route is preferred, the AD must have been lowered, likely via the distance command under EIGRP.
A network engineer is troubleshooting a connectivity issue between two sites. R1 learns the prefix 10.0.0.0/8 via RIP (AD 120) from R2, and also via a directly connected interface on R3. The engineer notices that R1 uses the RIP route instead of the connected route. What is the most likely cause?
Explanation: Connected routes have an AD of 0, which is always preferred over any dynamic routing protocol. If the connected route is not used, it likely does not exist for that exact prefix, or the interface is down. However, if the prefix is learned via RIP with AD 120, the connected route should take precedence. The only way RIP is preferred is if the connected route is not present for that prefix.
An engineer is troubleshooting a routing loop between two routers. R1 and R2 are running both OSPF and EIGRP. R1 learns the prefix 172.16.1.0/24 via OSPF with AD 110 and via EIGRP internal with AD 90. The engineer notices that R1 installs the EIGRP route, but traffic to 172.16.1.0/24 is being dropped. What is the most likely issue?
Explanation: EIGRP internal routes have AD 90, which is lower than OSPF's 110, so EIGRP is preferred. However, if the EIGRP route points to a next-hop that is not reachable or is a backup path, traffic may be dropped. The root cause could be that the EIGRP route is learned via a secondary path that is not optimal or has a next-hop issue.
A network engineer is troubleshooting a multi-homed BGP setup. R1 receives the prefix 10.1.1.0/24 from two eBGP peers: R2 (AS 100) and R3 (AS 200). The engineer configures the distance bgp 20 20 20 command on R1 to make all BGP routes have the same AD. However, R1 still prefers the route from R2 over R3. What is the most likely reason?
Explanation: The distance bgp command sets AD for eBGP, iBGP, and local routes. With AD equal, the router uses other BGP path attributes, such as local preference, AS path length, or MED. The most common tie-breaker is local preference (default 100) or the oldest route.
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Practice all Administrative Distance questions1. Baseline your knowledge
Start with 10 questions to gauge your current understanding of Administrative Distance. This tells you whether you need a concept refresher or just practice.
2. Review every explanation
For each question — right or wrong — read the full explanation. Understanding why an answer is correct is more valuable than knowing the answer itself.
3. Focus on exam traps
Administrative Distance questions on the 300-410 frequently use trap wording. Look for subtle differences in answers that test your precision, not just general knowledge.
4. Reach 80% consistently
Do repeated sessions until you score 80%+ three times in a row. Then move to mixed-mode practice to test cross-topic recall under realistic conditions.
The exact number varies per candidate. Administrative Distance is tested as part of the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 blueprint. Practicing with targeted Administrative Distance questions ensures you can handle any format or difficulty that appears.
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Difficulty is subjective, but Administrative Distance is a high-priority exam concept tested in multiple ways — direct recall, scenario analysis, and command-output interpretation. Consistent practice is the best way to build confidence.
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