Question 1,791 of 1,389
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
What is an autonomous system in basic BGP terminology?
⚠ Common exam trap
A frequent exam trap is mistaking an autonomous system for a VLAN or an OSPF area. VLANs are Layer 2 broadcast domains and do not relate to routing domains or administrative control of routing policies. Similarly, OSPF areas segment a single routing domain to optimize routing but do not represent separate administrative entities. Confusing these concepts can lead to incorrect answers because BGP’s autonomous system concept specifically refers to a collection of networks and routers under a common administrative routing policy, which is distinct from VLAN or OSPF area segmentation.
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
✓
A collection of networks and routers under common administrative routing control
An autonomous system is a collection of IP networks and routers under a common routing policy or administrative control. In practical terms, it is the domain boundary concept used in BGP discussions. BGP uses AS concepts to reason about routing between separate administrative networks. This is one of the first BGP ideas learners need to understand.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A collection of networks and routers under common administrative routing control
Why this is correct
In BGP terminology, an autonomous system (AS) is a set of routers and networks that operate under a single administrative domain and present a consistent routing policy to other ASes. It is identified by a globally unique AS number (ASN) and exchanges reachability information with external peers via BGP, making it the fundamental unit of inter-domain routing.
- ✗
A single switch VLAN
Why it's wrong here
A single switch VLAN is a Layer 2 broadcast domain created to segment traffic at the data link layer, not an autonomous system. VLANs have no routing policy, no ASN, and do not participate in BGP; they are confined to switches and cannot represent an independently administered routing domain.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were about defining network segments within a local area network (LAN) and asked for a term that describes a logical grouping of devices managed by a single switch, then 'a single switch VLAN' would be the correct answer.
- ✗
A specific OSPF area inside one router
Why it's wrong here
An OSPF area is a subdomain within a single OSPF routing process, used to control link-state updates and summarize routes inside one organization's network. In contrast, an autonomous system can span multiple IGPs (including OSPF, EIGRP) and is defined by administrative control and external BGP boundaries, not by an area's topology limits.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to ask about the components of OSPF and how they relate to routing within a single organization, then 'a specific OSPF area inside one router' could be the correct answer, as it pertains to the organization of routing information within that context.
- ✗
A type of wireless access point
Why it's wrong here
A wireless access point is a physical networking device that provides Wi-Fi connectivity by bridging wireless clients to a wired LAN. It is hardware at Layer 2, lacking routing intelligence and an AS boundary; an autonomous system is an abstract routing governance concept, entirely distinct from any specific device type.
When this WOULD be correct
If the exam question asked for the definition of a wireless access point or its types, then option D would be correct. For example, a question could ask, 'Which of the following is a type of device used to extend a wireless network?'
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.
✓A collection of networks and routers under common administrative routing controlCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
In BGP terminology, an autonomous system (AS) is a set of routers and networks that operate under a single administrative domain and present a consistent routing policy to other ASes. It is identified by a globally unique AS number (ASN) and exchanges reachability information with external peers via BGP, making it the fundamental unit of inter-domain routing.
✗A single switch VLANWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Option B is incorrect because a single switch VLAN does not represent an autonomous system, which is defined as a collection of networks and routers under a single administrative control in BGP terminology.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were about defining network segments within a local area network (LAN) and asked for a term that describes a logical grouping of devices managed by a single switch, then 'a single switch VLAN' would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the concept of an autonomous system with simpler network configurations, such as VLANs, leading them to select this option due to familiarity with basic networking concepts.
✗A specific OSPF area inside one routerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Option C is incorrect because an OSPF area is a logical grouping of routers that share link-state information, not an autonomous system, which encompasses multiple networks and routers under a single administrative control.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to ask about the components of OSPF and how they relate to routing within a single organization, then 'a specific OSPF area inside one router' could be the correct answer, as it pertains to the organization of routing information within that context.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to confusion between routing protocols and their components, leading them to associate OSPF areas with broader routing concepts like autonomous systems.
✗A type of wireless access pointWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Option D is incorrect because an autonomous system in BGP terminology refers to a collection of networks and routers, not a type of wireless access point, which is a completely different networking concept.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the exam question asked for the definition of a wireless access point or its types, then option D would be correct. For example, a question could ask, 'Which of the following is a type of device used to extend a wireless network?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of networking terminology, confusing BGP concepts with wireless networking devices, especially if they have encountered both topics in their studies.
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?”
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.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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.
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