Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Which statement best describes BGP at a basic CCNA level?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
It is a path-vector routing protocol commonly associated with routing between autonomous systems.
This is correct because that is the core identity of BGP.
B
Distractor review
It is the default spanning-tree protocol for switches.
This is wrong because BGP is not a switching-loop prevention protocol.
C
Distractor review
It is a WLAN security standard.
This is wrong because BGP is a routing protocol, not a wireless security technology.
D
Distractor review
It is a replacement for ARP in IPv4.
This is wrong because BGP is unrelated to ARP.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is mistaking BGP for protocols unrelated to routing between autonomous systems. For example, some might confuse BGP with STP because both are fundamental protocols in networking but serve very different purposes—STP prevents switching loops in LANs, while BGP manages routing between ASes. Others may incorrectly associate BGP with WLAN security standards or ARP replacement, which are unrelated functions. This confusion arises because BGP’s name and function are less familiar at the CCNA level compared to more common protocols like OSPF or EIGRP. Recognizing BGP’s unique role as a path-vector protocol for inter-AS routing helps avoid these pitfalls.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a path-vector routing protocol designed to exchange routing information between different autonomous systems (ASes) on the Internet. Unlike interior gateway protocols such as OSPF or EIGRP, which operate within a single AS, BGP manages routing policies and path selection across AS boundaries, making it the backbone protocol for interdomain routing. BGP uses attributes like AS path, next-hop, and local preference to determine the best path for routing traffic between large networks. At the CCNA level, understanding BGP focuses on its role as an inter-AS routing protocol that maintains a table of network paths and selects routes based on policy rather than purely on metrics like bandwidth or delay. BGP establishes TCP sessions between peers (neighbors) to exchange routing updates, and it advertises reachable networks using path-vector information. This behavior contrasts with protocols like STP, which prevents switching loops, or WLAN security standards, which protect wireless networks. A common exam trap is confusing BGP with other protocols or technologies such as STP, WLAN security, or ARP. BGP is not involved in loop prevention within a LAN, wireless encryption, or address resolution. Practically, BGP is essential for Internet service providers and large enterprises to control routing policies and ensure scalable, policy-based routing across multiple autonomous systems, which is a key distinction from interior routing protocols covered in CCNA.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- BGP uses path-vector routing to exchange routing information between different autonomous systems, enabling interdomain routing on the Internet.
- BGP establishes TCP sessions with peers to reliably advertise reachable networks and maintain routing tables across AS boundaries.
- BGP selects routes based on attributes like AS path and local preference rather than traditional metrics like bandwidth or delay.
- BGP differs from interior routing protocols such as OSPF and EIGRP, which operate within a single autonomous system.
- BGP is not involved in switching loop prevention, wireless security, or address resolution functions within a network.
- BGP enables large-scale policy-based routing decisions essential for Internet service providers and enterprise edge networks.
- Understanding BGP’s role as an inter-AS routing protocol helps avoid confusing it with unrelated protocols like STP or WLAN security standards.
- BGP’s path-vector mechanism advertises the full path of ASes to prevent routing loops between autonomous systems.
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
BGP uses path-vector routing to exchange routing information between different autonomous systems, enabling interdomain routing on the Internet.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: It is a path-vector routing protocol commonly associated with routing between autonomous systems. — BGP is a path-vector routing protocol associated with exchanging routing information between autonomous systems. In practical terms, it is the protocol most people associate with interdomain routing and large-scale Internet-style route exchange. At CCNA level, the important point is not every attribute detail, but the fact that BGP is about path-vector routing across AS boundaries. This separates it clearly from interior protocols such as OSPF or EIGRP.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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