CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
A network engineer is configuring OSPFv2 on a Cisco router. The router is connected to two different OSPF areas: Area 0 and Area 1. The engineer wants to summarize the routes from Area 1 into Area 0. Which router type is required to perform this summarization?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse the roles of ABR and ASBR. Summarization between OSPF areas is done by an ABR, while external route summarization is done by an ASBR.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Area Border Router (ABR)
An Area Border Router (ABR) is required to summarize routes between OSPF areas. It connects to multiple areas, including Area 0, and can use the area range command to summarize routes from one area into another. Internal routers, backbone routers, and ASBRs do not perform this function.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Autonomous System Boundary Router (ASBR)
Why it's wrong here
An ASBR connects an OSPF domain to an external routing domain, such as another OSPF process or a different protocol. It performs external route summarization, not inter-area summarization. The scenario involves summarization between OSPF areas, which is done by an ABR.
- ✗
Internal router
Why it's wrong here
An internal router has all its interfaces in the same OSPF area. It does not connect to multiple areas, so it cannot perform summarization between areas. Summarization between areas is done by an Area Border Router (ABR).
- ✗
Backbone router
Why it's wrong here
A backbone router has at least one interface in Area 0. While it may be an ABR, the term backbone router alone does not imply the ability to summarize between areas. Summarization is a function of an ABR, which connects to multiple areas, including the backbone.
- ✓
Area Border Router (ABR)
Why this is correct
An ABR connects to multiple OSPF areas, including the backbone Area 0. It is responsible for summarizing routes from one area into another. In this scenario, the router connects Area 0 and Area 1, so it is an ABR and can perform summarization of Area 1 routes into Area 0 using the area range command.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Cisco IOS CLI Modes
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
Key term
OSPF
OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that uses the SPF algorithm to compute the shortest path to each destination within a single autonomous system.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.