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CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Drag and drop the following steps into the correct order to configure a single-area OSPFv2 network on two Cisco routers (R1 and R2) and observe the neighbor state transitions from Down to Full.
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that candidates might think interfaces must be up before OSPF configuration, or that verification can be done after configuring only one router. The correct sequence ensures both routers are configured before checking neighbor states.
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
✓
Configure OSPF process and router-id on R1, then add the network; repeat on R2; ensure interfaces are up; finally verify neighbor states.
First configure OSPF process and router-id on R1, then add the network; repeat on R2; ensure interfaces are up; finally verify neighbor states to see the full transition sequence.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure OSPF process and router-id on R1, then add the network; repeat on R2; ensure interfaces are up; finally verify neighbor states.
Why this is correct
This is the correct order because OSPF neighbor adjacency requires both routers to have the OSPF process, router-id, and network statements in place before the interfaces can form the adjacency. The network command tells OSPF which interfaces to advertise, so it must be configured right after the process is created on each router. After configuring both R1 and R2, ensuring that interfaces are up (no shutdown) allows the routers to exchange Hello packets and advance neighbor states from Down through Init, 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange, Loading, to Full. Verification with 'show ip ospf neighbor' then confirms whether the adjacency reaches the Full state.
- ✗
Configure OSPF process and router-id on R1, then ensure interfaces are up; repeat on R2; add the network; finally verify neighbor states.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because interfaces must be up before OSPF can form adjacencies, but the network command should be configured before verifying neighbor states; however, the order of 'ensure interfaces up' and 'add network' is swapped relative to the correct sequence.
- ✗
Ensure interfaces are up on both routers, then configure OSPF process and router-id on R1; add the network; repeat on R2; finally verify neighbor states.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because OSPF configuration should be done before verifying neighbor states, but the order of 'ensure interfaces up' before OSPF configuration is acceptable; however, the network command must be added after OSPF process, and the sequence is otherwise correct but the placement of 'ensure interfaces up' is not wrong, but the question expects a specific order that starts with OSPF configuration.
- ✗
Configure OSPF process and router-id on R1, then add the network; ensure interfaces are up; repeat on R2; finally verify neighbor states.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because after configuring OSPF on R1, you should repeat the process on R2 before verifying neighbor states; ensuring interfaces up can be done at any point, but the sequence should complete configuration on both routers before verification.
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.
✓Configure OSPF process and router-id on R1, then add the network; repeat on R2; ensure interfaces are up; finally verify neighbor states.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is the correct order because OSPF neighbor adjacency requires both routers to have the OSPF process, router-id, and network statements in place before the interfaces can form the adjacency. The network command tells OSPF which interfaces to advertise, so it must be configured right after the process is created on each router. After configuring both R1 and R2, ensuring that interfaces are up (no shutdown) allows the routers to exchange Hello packets and advance neighbor states from Down through Init, 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange, Loading, to Full. Verification with 'show ip ospf neighbor' then confirms whether the adjacency reaches the Full state.
✗Configure OSPF process and router-id on R1, then ensure interfaces are up; repeat on R2; add the network; finally verify neighbor states.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: The network command should be configured after OSPF process and router-id, but before verifying neighbor states; ensuring interfaces up can be done before or after OSPF configuration, but typically after network command to avoid false down states.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think interfaces must be up before any OSPF configuration, but OSPF can be configured first; the key is that the network command must be present for OSPF to form adjacencies.
✗Ensure interfaces are up on both routers, then configure OSPF process and router-id on R1; add the network; repeat on R2; finally verify neighbor states.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: While ensuring interfaces up early is not wrong, the standard procedure is to configure OSPF first; the question expects the order as in option A.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think that interfaces must be up before any OSPF configuration to avoid errors, but OSPF can be configured on down interfaces; the neighbor state will not progress until interfaces are up.
✗Configure OSPF process and router-id on R1, then add the network; ensure interfaces are up; repeat on R2; finally verify neighbor states.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: The step 'ensure interfaces are up' is placed after adding network on R1 but before configuring R2, which is not the typical order; the correct order is to complete configuration on both routers before verification.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think that interfaces must be up on R1 before moving to R2, but OSPF configuration on R2 does not depend on R1's interface state; the neighbor state will not form until both sides are configured.
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.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
OSPFv3 Single-Area Configuration for IPv6
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.
Key term
OSPF
OSPF is a link-state routing protocol used to find the best path for data packets to travel across IP networks, like a smart GPS that recalculates routes when traffic changes.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.