This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Network Topology
You are connected to R1. The network must route IPv6 traffic between two directly connected routers using OSPFv3. Configure OSPFv3 on R1's GigabitEthernet0/0 interface in area 0, enable IPv6 unicast routing, and verify that R1 forms an OSPFv3 neighbor adjacency with R2 and learns the remote network 2001:DB8:CAFE:2::/64 via OSPFv3.
R1# show running-config | section ipv6
ipv6 unicast-routing
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/0
ipv6 address 2001:DB8:CAFE:1::1/64
no shutdown
!
R1# show ipv6 route
IPv6 Routing Table - default - 3 entries
Codes: C - Connected, L - Local, S - Static, U - Per-user Static route
B - BGP, M - MIPv6, R - RIP, I1 - ISIS L1, I2 - ISIS L2
IA - ISIS interarea, IS - ISIS summary, D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external
ND - Neighbor Discovery, O - OSPF Intra, OI - OSPF Inter, OE1 - OSPF ext 1
OE2 - OSPF ext 2, ON1 - OSPF NSSA ext 1, ON2 - OSPF NSSA ext 2
C 2001:DB8:CAFE:1::/64 [0/0]
via GigabitEthernet0/0, directly connected
L 2001:DB8:CAFE:1::1/128 [0/0]
via GigabitEthernet0/0, receive
R1# show ospfv3 neighbor
R1#
A
Enable OSPFv3 on the interface with 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under GigabitEthernet0/0.
This command enables OSPFv3 process 1 on the interface and assigns it to area 0, which is required for the router to form an OSPFv3 neighbor adjacency and exchange routes.
B
Configure 'ipv6 router ospf 1' and then 'network 2001:DB8:CAFE:1::/64 area 0' under the OSPFv3 process.
Why wrong: OSPFv3 does not use the 'network' command under the router process; instead, OSPFv3 is enabled directly on interfaces. This command is used in OSPFv2 for IPv4.
C
Enable OSPFv3 on the interface with 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under the OSPFv3 router configuration mode.
Why wrong: The 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' command is an interface configuration command, not a router configuration command. It must be applied under the interface, not under the OSPFv3 process.
D
Configure 'ipv6 unicast-routing' and then 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under the interface.
Why wrong: While 'ipv6 unicast-routing' is necessary for IPv6 routing, the question states it is already enabled. The missing step is enabling OSPFv3 on the interface, but the answer incorrectly implies that 'ipv6 unicast-routing' is part of the solution.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable OSPFv3 on the interface with 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under GigabitEthernet0/0.
The issue is that OSPFv3 is not enabled on R1's GigabitEthernet0/0 interface, and the OSPFv3 routing process has not been started. To fix this, first ensure ipv6 unicast-routing is already enabled (it is). Then configure the OSPFv3 process with a process ID (e.g., 1) and enable OSPFv3 on the interface in area 0 using the command 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under the interface. After that, R1 will form a neighbor adjacency with R2 and learn the remote route.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Enable OSPFv3 on the interface with 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under GigabitEthernet0/0.
Why this is correct
This command enables OSPFv3 process 1 on the interface and assigns it to area 0, which is required for the router to form an OSPFv3 neighbor adjacency and exchange routes.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
Configure 'ipv6 router ospf 1' and then 'network 2001:DB8:CAFE:1::/64 area 0' under the OSPFv3 process.
Why it's wrong here
OSPFv3 does not use the 'network' command under the router process; instead, OSPFv3 is enabled directly on interfaces. This command is used in OSPFv2 for IPv4.
✗
Enable OSPFv3 on the interface with 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under the OSPFv3 router configuration mode.
Why it's wrong here
The 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' command is an interface configuration command, not a router configuration command. It must be applied under the interface, not under the OSPFv3 process.
✗
Configure 'ipv6 unicast-routing' and then 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under the interface.
Why it's wrong here
While 'ipv6 unicast-routing' is necessary for IPv6 routing, the question states it is already enabled. The missing step is enabling OSPFv3 on the interface, but the answer incorrectly implies that 'ipv6 unicast-routing' is part of the solution.
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.
✓Enable OSPFv3 on the interface with 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under GigabitEthernet0/0.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This command enables OSPFv3 process 1 on the interface and assigns it to area 0, which is required for the router to form an OSPFv3 neighbor adjacency and exchange routes.
✗Configure 'ipv6 router ospf 1' and then 'network 2001:DB8:CAFE:1::/64 area 0' under the OSPFv3 process.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The 'network' command is not valid for OSPFv3; OSPFv3 uses interface-level configuration.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates familiar with OSPFv2 may mistakenly apply the same configuration method to OSPFv3.
✗Enable OSPFv3 on the interface with 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under the OSPFv3 router configuration mode.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This command is only valid in interface configuration mode.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might think that OSPFv3 interface configuration is done within the router process, similar to OSPFv2's network command.
✗Configure 'ipv6 unicast-routing' and then 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under the interface.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question explicitly says IPv6 unicast routing is already enabled, so this option includes an unnecessary step.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that enabling IPv6 unicast routing is part of the OSPFv3 configuration, but it is a prerequisite that is already in place.
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: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
OSPFv3 does not use the 'network' command under the router process; instead, OSPFv3 is enabled directly on interfaces. This command is used in OSPFv2 for IPv4.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 200-301 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable OSPFv3 on the interface with 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under GigabitEthernet0/0. — The issue is that OSPFv3 is not enabled on R1's GigabitEthernet0/0 interface, and the OSPFv3 routing process has not been started. To fix this, first ensure ipv6 unicast-routing is already enabled (it is). Then configure the OSPFv3 process with a process ID (e.g., 1) and enable OSPFv3 on the interface in area 0 using the command 'ipv6 ospf 1 area 0' under the interface. After that, R1 will form a neighbor adjacency with R2 and learn the remote route.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 200-301 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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