This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: oSPF forms neighbor adjacencies through a series of states culminating in FULL, which indicates complete synchronization of link-state databases.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A router output shows this neighbor state:
Neighbor ID 10.1.1.1 State FULL/DR Address 192.168.12.1
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The neighbor relationship is complete and the neighbor is the DR on that segment
FULL means the OSPF adjacency is fully formed. The /DR suffix indicates that the listed neighbor is the Designated Router for that multiaccess segment.
Key principle: OSPF forms neighbor adjacencies through a series of states culminating in FULL, which indicates complete synchronization of link-state databases.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The local router is the DR and adjacency formation has failed
Why it's wrong here
FULL indicates success, not failure, and the suffix refers to the neighbor listed in the table.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified a scenario where the local router was indeed the DR but had issues with forming adjacencies due to misconfigurations or network issues, then stating that the adjacency formation has failed would be correct.
✓
The neighbor relationship is complete and the neighbor is the DR on that segment
Why this is correct
Correct. The adjacency is complete, and that neighbor is acting as the DR.
Related concept
OSPF forms neighbor adjacencies through a series of states culminating in FULL, which indicates complete synchronization of link-state databases.
✗
The routers are exchanging only link-state requests
Why it's wrong here
That describes an earlier stage, not FULL adjacency.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question, if the context specified that the routers were in a transitional state where they were still negotiating their adjacency and had not yet completed the exchange of link-state information, then this option could be correct.
✗
The neighbor has been learned through BGP redistribution
Why it's wrong here
This output is native OSPF neighbor information, not redistributed BGP data.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the question asks about the source of routing information and states that a neighbor has been learned via BGP, this option would be correct if the context specified that the router was learning routes from a BGP neighbor and not through OSPF adjacency.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The neighbor relationship is complete and the neighbor is the DR on that segmentCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. The adjacency is complete, and that neighbor is acting as the DR.
✗The local router is the DR and adjacency formation has failedWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The FULL state indicates that the adjacency has been successfully established and the routers have synchronized their LSDBs, not a failure. The suffix '/DR' refers to the role of the neighbor listed in the table, not the local router.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified a scenario where the local router was indeed the DR but had issues with forming adjacencies due to misconfigurations or network issues, then stating that the adjacency formation has failed would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
A student might confuse the suffix '/DR' as indicating the local router's role, especially if they are not careful about the output format. Additionally, the term 'DR' might be misinterpreted as a failure state by those unfamiliar with OSPF.
✗The routers are exchanging only link-state requestsWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The FULL state is the final state of OSPF adjacency, indicating that the routers have completed all exchange steps, including link-state requests, updates, and acknowledgments. The description of 'exchanging only link-state requests' corresponds to the EXCHANGE or LOADING state, not FULL.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question, if the context specified that the routers were in a transitional state where they were still negotiating their adjacency and had not yet completed the exchange of link-state information, then this option could be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Students often confuse the various OSPF states (DOWN, INIT, 2WAY, EXSTART, EXCHANGE, LOADING, FULL). The mention of 'link-state requests' might lead them to think of the LOADING state, but FULL is the final, stable state.
✗The neighbor has been learned through BGP redistributionWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The output shown is from the 'show ip ospf neighbor' command, which displays OSPF-specific neighbor information. BGP uses different commands and neighbor states (e.g., Established, Active). The FULL/DR state is unique to OSPF and has nothing to do with BGP redistribution.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the question asks about the source of routing information and states that a neighbor has been learned via BGP, this option would be correct if the context specified that the router was learning routes from a BGP neighbor and not through OSPF adjacency.
Why candidates choose this
A student might see the neighbor ID (10.1.1.1) and assume it is a BGP learned route, especially if they are more familiar with BGP. However, the state information clearly indicates OSPF adjacency.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is assuming that the FULL state with /DR means the local router is the Designated Router or that adjacency has failed. In reality, FULL indicates a successful adjacency, and the /DR suffix refers to the neighbor’s role. Candidates often confuse the neighbor ID with the local router’s role, leading to incorrect answers. Another trap is thinking that exchanging only link-state requests corresponds to FULL state, but that actually occurs earlier in the adjacency process. Understanding the exact meaning of FULL and the DR role is essential to avoid these pitfalls.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This output is native OSPF neighbor information, not redistributed BGP data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a link-state routing protocol that forms neighbor adjacencies to exchange routing information efficiently. The neighbor state FULL indicates that the routers have completed the OSPF adjacency process, meaning they have synchronized their link-state databases and can now fully exchange routing updates. The suffix /DR in the neighbor state output specifies that the neighbor router is the Designated Router (DR) on the multiaccess network segment, responsible for generating and distributing LSAs (Link State Advertisements) to reduce OSPF traffic and maintain network stability.
The OSPF adjacency process involves several states: Down, Init, 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange, Loading, and finally Full. When the state reaches FULL, it confirms that the routers have exchanged all necessary database information and are fully adjacent. The DR election process selects one router as the DR to minimize flooding of LSAs on broadcast and multiaccess networks. Seeing FULL/DR means the local router has a fully formed adjacency with a neighbor that is acting as the DR, which is critical for efficient OSPF operation.
A common exam trap is confusing the FULL state with adjacency failure or misinterpreting the /DR suffix as referring to the local router rather than the neighbor. In practice, the FULL state always indicates a successful adjacency, and the /DR suffix identifies the neighbor’s role, not the local router’s. Understanding this distinction helps avoid misreading OSPF neighbor outputs and ensures accurate interpretation of OSPF network topology and router roles.
KKey Concepts to Remember
OSPF forms neighbor adjacencies through a series of states culminating in FULL, which indicates complete synchronization of link-state databases.
The Designated Router (DR) is elected on multiaccess networks to reduce OSPF flooding by centralizing LSA distribution.
The FULL/DR neighbor state means the local router has a fully formed adjacency with a neighbor acting as the DR on that segment.
OSPF adjacency states progress from Down to Init, 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange, Loading, and finally Full, reflecting increasing synchronization.
The /DR suffix in OSPF neighbor output identifies the neighbor’s role as Designated Router, not the local router’s role.
A router only reaches FULL adjacency with neighbors that have successfully exchanged and acknowledged all link-state information.
OSPF uses the DR to optimize routing updates on broadcast and multiaccess networks, preventing excessive LSA flooding.
Misinterpreting the FULL state as failure or confusing the DR role assignment leads to common exam mistakes.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
OSPF forms neighbor adjacencies through a series of states culminating in FULL, which indicates complete synchronization of link-state databases.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Review oSPF forms neighbor adjacencies through a series of states culminating in FULL, which indicates complete synchronization of link-state databases., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — OSPF forms neighbor adjacencies through a series of states culminating in FULL, which indicates complete synchronization of link-state databases..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The neighbor relationship is complete and the neighbor is the DR on that segment — FULL means the OSPF adjacency is fully formed. The /DR suffix indicates that the listed neighbor is the Designated Router for that multiaccess segment.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review oSPF forms neighbor adjacencies through a series of states culminating in FULL, which indicates complete synchronization of link-state databases., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF forms neighbor adjacencies through a series of states culminating in FULL, which indicates complete synchronization of link-state databases.
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