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CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
Drag and drop the following OSPFv2 neighbor state transitions into the correct order, starting from the initial Down state on a broadcast or point-to-point network (non-NBMA).
⚠ Common exam trap
Do not confuse the standard OSPF neighbor states with the NBMA-specific Attempt state; unless the network type is explicitly NBMA, assume the common broadcast/point-to-point order omitting Attempt.
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
✓
Down, Init, 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange
The standard OSPF neighbor state machine on broadcast and point-to-point networks proceeds: Down, Init, 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange, Loading, Full. The Attempt state exists only on NBMA networks and is not used here. Option D correctly lists the first five states in order: Down → Init → 2-Way → ExStart → Exchange. Other options incorrectly include the NBMA-only Attempt state or misorder the states like Loading before Exchange.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Down, Attempt, Init, 2-Way, ExStart
Why it's wrong here
This sequence correctly represents the OSPFv2 neighbor state transitions on NBMA networks, starting from Down, then Attempt (since Hello is sent but no reply yet), then Init (Hello received), 2-Way (bidirectional communication), and ExStart (start of database exchange).
When this WOULD be correct
This ordering is used when configuring OSPF over NBMA networks such as Frame Relay or ATM, where the Attempt state is introduced.
- ✗
Down, Init, 2-Way, ExStart, Loading
Why it's wrong here
This sequence is invalid because it jumps from ExStart directly to Loading, omitting the Exchange state. In OSPFv2, ExStart is only for electing the Master/Slave and establishing initial DD sequence numbers; the actual Database Description packets are sent during Exchange, and Loading then follows to request missing LSAs. If the question were targeting an NBMA network, this sequence would also be missing the Attempt state, but regardless of media, skipping Exchange is a fatal protocol-order error.
- ✗
Down, Init, Attempt, 2-Way, ExStart
Why it's wrong here
This order incorrectly places Init before Attempt, which reverses the required NBMA neighbor-state logic. On NBMA networks, a router enters Attempt after sending an initial Hello to a configured neighbor and waiting for a response; Init is only reached once a Hello has actually arrived from that neighbor. Since this sequence shows Init occurring before Attempt, it cannot be correct for NBMA, and it would also be impossible on broadcast networks because Attempt is not used there at all.
- ✓
Down, Init, 2-Way, ExStart, Exchange
Why this is correct
This sequence correctly represents the standard OSPFv2 neighbor-state progression on broadcast and point-to-point networks. Down means no Hellos received; Init means a Hello has been received but bidirectional communication is not yet confirmed; 2-Way confirms both routers see each other; ExStart elects the Master/Slave and sets the initial DD sequence number; Exchange then transfers Database Description packets. After Exchange, the router would proceed to Loading and finally Full, but this option is correct as far as it goes.
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.
✓Down, Init, 2-Way, ExStart, ExchangeCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This sequence correctly represents the standard OSPFv2 neighbor-state progression on broadcast and point-to-point networks. Down means no Hellos received; Init means a Hello has been received but bidirectional communication is not yet confirmed; 2-Way confirms both routers see each other; ExStart elects the Master/Slave and sets the initial DD sequence number; Exchange then transfers Database Description packets. After Exchange, the router would proceed to Loading and finally Full, but this option is correct as far as it goes.
✗Down, Attempt, Init, 2-Way, ExStartWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This sequence includes the Attempt state, which is only valid on NBMA networks and is not part of the standard broadcast/point-to-point neighbor state machine.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This ordering is used when configuring OSPF over NBMA networks such as Frame Relay or ATM, where the Attempt state is introduced.
✗Down, Init, 2-Way, ExStart, LoadingWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Loading appears after Exchange, not directly after ExStart; the correct order after ExStart is Exchange, then Loading.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the order of states after ExStart, thinking Loading follows immediately, or they may forget the Attempt state on NBMA.
✗Down, Init, Attempt, 2-Way, ExStartWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Attempt is misplaced and only relevant to NBMA networks; the standard order excludes Attempt entirely.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think Init (receiving Hello) comes before Attempt (sending Hello) because they consider receiving as the first step, but the state machine defines Attempt as the state after sending Hello.
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 neighbor
An OSPF neighbor is another router that has been directly discovered through OSPF Hello packets and is willing to exchange routing information to build a network topology map.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 200-301 question from scratch — 1,389 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.