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Study the full EIGRP explanation →Question 1,338 of 1,819
Quick Answer
The answer is that EIGRP supports unequal-cost load balancing using the 'variance' command, and this is a valid feature because the protocol’s topology table stores all routes learned from neighbors, including feasible successors, while the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) guarantees loop-free paths through diffusing computations when a route is lost. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this question tests your understanding of EIGRP’s core mechanisms, often appearing as a “choose three” item where a common trap is confusing the topology table with the routing table or forgetting that unequal-cost load balancing requires the variance command, not just equal-cost paths. A key memory tip is to link “Variance” with “Varying metrics” — if the alternate path’s metric is within the variance multiplier times the best metric, traffic can be shared across those unequal-cost links.
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 are valid features of Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP)? (Choose three.)
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
✓
EIGRP maintains a topology table containing all routes learned from neighbors.
All three statements are correct features of EIGRP. EIGRP maintains a topology table that stores all routes learned from directly connected neighbors, including feasible successors. It uses the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) to guarantee loop-free paths by performing a diffusing computation when a route is lost. Additionally, EIGRP supports unequal-cost load balancing by using the 'variance' command, which allows traffic to be distributed across multiple paths with different metrics, as long as the metric of the alternate path is within the variance multiplier times the best metric.
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 EIGRP's topology table (which stores all learned routes) and its routing table (which stores only the best routes), and candidates may confuse the 'variance' command with equal-cost load balancing only, forgetting that it enables unequal-cost load balancing.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EIGRP's DUAL algorithm ensures loop-free paths by maintaining a list of feasible successors in the topology table, which are backup routes that meet the feasibility condition (reported distance < feasible distance). The 'variance' command defaults to 1 (equal-cost load balancing only), but setting it to a higher value (e.g., 2) allows unequal-cost load balancing, though the actual traffic distribution is proportional to the metric, not the variance value alone. In real-world scenarios, careful tuning of variance is required to avoid suboptimal routing or congestion on slower links.
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 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.
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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: EIGRP maintains a topology table containing all routes learned from neighbors. — All three statements are correct features of EIGRP. EIGRP maintains a topology table that stores all routes learned from directly connected neighbors, including feasible successors. It uses the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) to guarantee loop-free paths by performing a diffusing computation when a route is lost. Additionally, EIGRP supports unequal-cost load balancing by using the 'variance' command, which allows traffic to be distributed across multiple paths with different metrics, as long as the metric of the alternate path is within the variance multiplier times the best metric.
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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