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. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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.
Drag and drop the following OSPFv2 neighbor state transitions into the correct order, starting from the initial state after an adjacency is attempted and ending with the fully adjacent state.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because Init is the second state, not the first. The first state after attempting an adjacency is Down, not Init.
B
2-Way
Why wrong: This is incorrect because 2-Way is the third state, not the first. It occurs after Init, when bidirectional communication is confirmed.
C
Down
This is correct because Down is the initial state of an OSPF neighbor adjacency. It indicates that no Hello packets have been received from the neighbor.
D
ExStart
Why wrong: This is incorrect because ExStart is the fourth state, occurring after 2-Way. It is used to negotiate the master/slave relationship and initial sequence numbers for database exchange.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Down
OSPF neighbor states progress from Down to Init, then 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange, and finally Full (not listed).
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Init
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because Init is the second state, not the first. The first state after attempting an adjacency is Down, not Init.
✗
2-Way
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because 2-Way is the third state, not the first. It occurs after Init, when bidirectional communication is confirmed.
✓
Down
Why this is correct
This is correct because Down is the initial state of an OSPF neighbor adjacency. It indicates that no Hello packets have been received from the neighbor.
This is incorrect because ExStart is the fourth state, occurring after 2-Way. It is used to negotiate the master/slave relationship and initial sequence numbers for database exchange.
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.
✓DownCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because Down is the initial state of an OSPF neighbor adjacency. It indicates that no Hello packets have been received from the neighbor.
✗InitWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Init is the state where a Hello packet has been received from the neighbor, but the neighbor's Router ID is not yet seen in the router's own Hello packet.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often think Init is the first state because it is the first state where communication is established.
✗2-WayWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
2-Way indicates that the router has received a Hello packet containing its own Router ID, confirming two-way communication.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 2-Way as the initial state because it is the first state where adjacency is possible (for DR/BDR election).
✗ExStartWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
ExStart is part of the database exchange process, not the initial adjacency attempt.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think ExStart is early because it involves starting the exchange of database descriptors.
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: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
→Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
→Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
→Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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 neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 200-301 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Down — OSPF neighbor states progress from Down to Init, then 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange, and finally Full (not listed).
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 200-301 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Question Discussion
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