Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Which statement best describes the purpose of Neighbor Discovery in IPv6 at a 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 supports important local-link IPv6 functions such as neighbor discovery and local reachability behavior.
This is correct because Neighbor Discovery is a foundational IPv6 local-link mechanism.
B
Distractor review
It is the protocol used to summarize routes between OSPF areas.
This is wrong because Neighbor Discovery is not a route summarization mechanism.
C
Distractor review
It is a wireless security standard replacing WPA3.
This is wrong because Neighbor Discovery is not a WLAN security protocol.
D
Distractor review
It is the SNMP method for polling interface counters.
This is wrong because SNMP polling and IPv6 Neighbor Discovery are different technologies.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is mistaking Neighbor Discovery for a routing protocol or a security mechanism. Some candidates incorrectly link it to OSPF route summarization or wireless security standards like WPA3. This confusion arises because Neighbor Discovery uses ICMPv6, which might be mistaken for routing protocol messages. However, NDP strictly operates at the local-link layer to resolve IPv6 addresses to MAC addresses and maintain neighbor reachability, not to summarize routes or secure wireless networks. Misunderstanding this can lead to selecting incorrect answers that describe unrelated functions.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) is a fundamental IPv6 protocol that operates on the local link to enable IPv6 devices to discover other devices, determine their link-layer addresses, and maintain reachability information. It replaces several IPv4 protocols such as ARP, ICMP Router Discovery, and ICMP Redirect. NDP uses ICMPv6 messages to perform functions like address autoconfiguration, prefix discovery, and neighbor unreachability detection, which are essential for IPv6 communication within a local network segment. In the CCNA context, Neighbor Discovery is primarily understood as the mechanism that allows IPv6 hosts and routers to learn about their neighbors and map IPv6 addresses to MAC addresses for local delivery. This local-link function is crucial because IPv6 does not use ARP; instead, NDP handles address resolution and neighbor reachability. Recognizing NDP as a local-link protocol rather than a routing or security protocol is key to correctly answering related exam questions. A common exam trap is confusing Neighbor Discovery with routing protocols or security standards. For example, some may mistakenly associate it with OSPF route summarization or wireless security protocols like WPA3. Understanding that NDP strictly manages local IPv6 neighbor relationships and address resolution helps avoid these pitfalls. Practically, Cisco devices implement NDP to ensure efficient IPv6 communication on LANs without relying on legacy IPv4 mechanisms.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Neighbor Discovery Protocol enables IPv6 devices to discover other devices and their link-layer addresses on the same local network segment.
- NDP replaces IPv4 ARP by mapping IPv6 addresses to MAC addresses using ICMPv6 messages within the local link.
- IPv6 hosts use Neighbor Discovery to maintain neighbor reachability information, ensuring reliable local communication.
- Neighbor Discovery supports IPv6 address autoconfiguration and prefix discovery, which are essential for network setup.
- NDP operates only on the local link and does not perform routing or route summarization functions.
- Cisco devices implement Neighbor Discovery to facilitate IPv6 communication without relying on legacy IPv4 protocols.
- Confusing Neighbor Discovery with routing protocols or wireless security standards is a common exam mistake.
- Understanding NDP’s role in local-link IPv6 functions helps distinguish it from other protocols like OSPF or SNMP.
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?
Neighbor Discovery Protocol enables IPv6 devices to discover other devices and their link-layer addresses on the same local network segment.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: It supports important local-link IPv6 functions such as neighbor discovery and local reachability behavior. — Neighbor Discovery supports key local-link IPv6 functions such as learning neighbor reachability and mapping Layer 3 information to local Layer 2 delivery. In practical terms, it helps IPv6 hosts and routers discover one another on the local segment and communicate correctly without relying on the exact same mechanisms used by IPv4. At CCNA level, the main idea is to recognize it as a core local IPv6 function rather than a routing protocol or a wireless feature.
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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