Quick Answer
The answer is the lowest OSPF cost. Within the OSPF protocol, each interface is assigned a cost based on its bandwidth, and the router calculates the total cumulative cost along each path to the destination network. The path with the smallest total cost is selected as the best route, because OSPF uses this metric as its sole criterion for internal path selection. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how OSPF operates independently of administrative distance, which only matters when comparing routes from different routing protocols. A common trap is confusing cost with hop count or assuming OSPF prefers the path with the highest bandwidth; in reality, cost is inversely related to bandwidth. Remember the mnemonic “Low Cost Wins” to keep straight that OSPF always picks the numerically smallest cost for the best path.
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. A key principle to apply: oSPF selects the best route to a destination based on the lowest cumulative cost metric calculated along the entire path.. 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.
When two routes to the same destination are learned by OSPF from different paths, what criterion does OSPF use to select the best path?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Lowest administrative distance
Why wrong: Distractor.
Lowest OSPF cost
Correct choice.
Highest bandwidth of the first hop only
Why wrong: Distractor.
Lowest next-hop IP address
Why wrong: Distractor.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Lowest OSPF cost
Within OSPF, the router compares the total path cost to the destination. Lower cost is preferred. Administrative distance is used when comparing routes from different routing sources, not between two OSPF paths.
Key principle: OSPF selects the best route to a destination based on the lowest cumulative cost metric calculated along the entire path.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Lowest administrative distance
Why it's wrong here
Distractor.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked about the selection criteria for routes learned from multiple routing protocols, such as OSPF and EIGRP, then the lowest administrative distance would be the correct answer. In this scenario, OSPF would be compared against another protocol, and the administrative distance would determine which route to prefer.
Lowest OSPF cost
Highest bandwidth of the first hop only
Why it's wrong here
Distractor.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking which routing protocol selects paths based solely on the highest bandwidth of the first hop, this option would be correct. For instance, if the question specified a protocol that prioritizes the first hop's bandwidth over cumulative path metrics, such as EIGRP, then this answer would apply.
Lowest next-hop IP address
Why it's wrong here
Distractor.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking which routing protocol selects paths based on the lowest next-hop IP address, this option would be correct. For example, if the question specifically pertains to static routing or a different protocol that uses next-hop addresses for path selection, then this option would apply.
Option-by-option analysis
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.
Why this is correct
Correct choice.
Why this is wrong here
Administrative distance is used to select between routes from different routing protocols (e.g., OSPF vs. EIGRP), not between multiple OSPF routes to the same destination. For OSPF-learned routes, the administrative distance is the same, so it does not differentiate.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked about the selection criteria for routes learned from multiple routing protocols, such as OSPF and EIGRP, then the lowest administrative distance would be the correct answer. In this scenario, OSPF would be compared against another protocol, and the administrative distance would determine which route to prefer.
Why candidates choose this
Students often confuse the role of administrative distance, thinking it applies to route selection within the same protocol, but it is actually used for comparing routes from different sources.
Why this is wrong here
OSPF cost is based on the cumulative cost of all outgoing interfaces along the path, not just the first hop. Additionally, bandwidth alone is not directly used; cost is inversely proportional to bandwidth. The highest bandwidth does not guarantee the lowest cost if other links have higher costs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking which routing protocol selects paths based solely on the highest bandwidth of the first hop, this option would be correct. For instance, if the question specified a protocol that prioritizes the first hop's bandwidth over cumulative path metrics, such as EIGRP, then this answer would apply.
Why candidates choose this
Some might think that the first hop's bandwidth is the primary factor, similar to how some routing protocols consider hop count. However, OSPF considers the entire path cost.
Why this is wrong here
OSPF does not use the next-hop IP address as a tiebreaker for route selection. The next-hop IP is determined after the best route is chosen. Using the lowest IP address is not a criterion in OSPF's SPF algorithm.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking which routing protocol selects paths based on the lowest next-hop IP address, this option would be correct. For example, if the question specifically pertains to static routing or a different protocol that uses next-hop addresses for path selection, then this option would apply.
Why candidates choose this
In some routing protocols or configurations, IP addresses can be used as tiebreakers (e.g., in BGP or when equal-cost paths exist), but OSPF relies solely on cost unless equal-cost load balancing is configured.
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
A common exam trap is selecting administrative distance as the criterion for OSPF route selection. While administrative distance determines route preference between different routing protocols, OSPF uses cost internally to choose the best path. Another trap is assuming OSPF chooses routes based on the highest bandwidth of the first hop only, ignoring the cumulative cost of the entire path. Candidates may also mistakenly think OSPF uses the lowest next-hop IP address, which is incorrect. These misunderstandings can lead to incorrect answers on OSPF routing questions.
Detailed technical explanation
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a link-state routing protocol that calculates the best path to a destination by using a cost metric. This cost is assigned to each interface and typically inversely proportional to the bandwidth of the link. The router sums the costs of all interfaces along a path to determine the total path cost. The path with the lowest total cost is preferred and installed in the routing table. This metric-based approach allows OSPF to optimize routing decisions based on actual link characteristics rather than arbitrary values. When OSPF learns multiple routes to the same destination from different paths, it compares the total cost of each path. The route with the lowest cumulative cost is selected as the best path. Administrative distance, which is a measure of trustworthiness between different routing protocols, is not used to compare routes within OSPF itself. Instead, OSPF relies solely on its cost metric to make intra-protocol route decisions. This ensures consistent and predictable routing behavior within OSPF domains. A common exam trap is confusing administrative distance with OSPF cost. Administrative distance is only relevant when comparing routes from different routing protocols, such as OSPF versus EIGRP. Within OSPF, the router ignores administrative distance and focuses on cost. Another practical consideration is that OSPF cost is cumulative across all hops, not just the first link. This means a path with a high-bandwidth first hop but lower bandwidth subsequent hops may have a higher total cost than a path with consistent medium bandwidth links. Understanding this helps network engineers design efficient OSPF topologies and avoid suboptimal routing.
Key takeaway
OSPF selects the best route to a destination based on the lowest cumulative cost metric calculated along the entire path.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Review oSPF selects the best route to a destination based on the lowest cumulative cost metric calculated along the entire path., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — OSPF selects the best route to a destination based on the lowest cumulative cost metric calculated along the entire path..
The correct answer is: Lowest OSPF cost — Within OSPF, the router compares the total path cost to the destination. Lower cost is preferred. Administrative distance is used when comparing routes from different routing sources, not between two OSPF paths.
Review oSPF selects the best route to a destination based on the lowest cumulative cost metric calculated along the entire path., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
OSPF selects the best route to a destination based on the lowest cumulative cost metric calculated along the entire path.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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