Question 1mediummulti select
Study the full EIGRP explanation →Question 131 of 1,819
Quick Answer
The correct answer is split horizon, which prevents routing loops by not advertising a route back out the interface from which it was learned. This fundamental mechanism ensures that a router never re-advertises routing information to the neighbor that originally provided it, breaking the cycle that could cause a loop. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, distance vector routing protocols like RIP and EIGRP are tested for their loop-prevention features and update behavior—for instance, RIPv2 sends updates to multicast 224.0.0.9, while EIGRP uses feasible and advertised distances in its DUAL algorithm to guarantee loop-free paths. A common trap is confusing Bellman-Ford (used by RIP) with DUAL (used by EIGRP), or assuming unequal-cost load balancing is default when it actually requires the variance command. Memory tip: think of split horizon as “don’t tell your source what it already told you.”
CCNA IP Routing Practice Question
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.
Which three of the following statements about distance vector routing protocols (e.g., RIP, EIGRP) are correct? (Choose all that apply. There are three correct answers.)
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
✓
They rely on the Bellman-Ford algorithm for route computation.
RIPv2 sends updates to the multicast address 224.0.0.9, ensuring only RIPv2 routers process them. EIGRP maintains both feasible distance (best metric to a destination) and advertised distance (metric reported by the next-hop router) to support its loop-free DUAL algorithm. Split horizon prevents routing loops by not advertising a route back out the interface from which it was learned. The statement about reliance on Bellman‑Ford is false because EIGRP uses DUAL, not Bellman‑Ford; the other two wrong options confuse distance vector behavior with link-state (full topology map) or assume unequal-cost load balancing is default when it requires the variance command.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between default behavior and optional features, so the trap here is assuming that EIGRP's unequal-cost load balancing is enabled by default when it actually requires the 'variance' command to activate.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Bellman-Ford algorithm used by distance vector protocols operates by having each router share its entire routing table with neighbors at regular intervals (e.g., 30 seconds for RIP), leading to slow convergence and potential count-to-infinity issues. EIGRP enhances this with DUAL, which pre-computes feasible successors to provide fast failover without periodic updates. In real-world networks, split horizon is critical for hub-and-spoke topologies where a spoke router might otherwise re-advertise a route back to the hub, causing a loop; Cisco implements split horizon by default on most interfaces, but it can be disabled on Frame Relay multipoint interfaces where it may block legitimate routes.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: They rely on the Bellman-Ford algorithm for route computation. — RIPv2 sends updates to the multicast address 224.0.0.9, ensuring only RIPv2 routers process them. EIGRP maintains both feasible distance (best metric to a destination) and advertised distance (metric reported by the next-hop router) to support its loop-free DUAL algorithm. Split horizon prevents routing loops by not advertising a route back out the interface from which it was learned. The statement about reliance on Bellman‑Ford is false because EIGRP uses DUAL, not Bellman‑Ford; the other two wrong options confuse distance vector behavior with link-state (full topology map) or assume unequal-cost load balancing is default when it requires the variance command.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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