Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Why is RIP rarely chosen for large modern enterprise networks?
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
Distractor review
It does not support IPv4
RIP absolutely supports IPv4.
B
Best answer
It scales poorly due to slow convergence and hop-count limitations
Correct. Limited scale and slower convergence are major reasons RIP is rarely used in large environments.
C
Distractor review
It cannot run on routers and only works on switches
RIP is a routing protocol for routers, not a switch-only feature.
D
Distractor review
It requires link-state advertisements
RIP is a distance-vector protocol, not a link-state protocol.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is assuming that RIP cannot support IPv4 or that it requires link-state advertisements, which are characteristics of other protocols like OSPF. Another common mistake is thinking RIP runs only on switches, whereas it is a routing protocol designed for routers. These misconceptions can mislead candidates to select incorrect answers. The key is to remember that RIP is a distance-vector protocol with a maximum hop count of 15 and slower convergence, which limits its use in large networks. Misunderstanding these fundamental traits can cause confusion during the exam.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is one of the earliest distance-vector routing protocols designed for IP networks. It uses hop count as its routing metric, with a maximum allowable hop count of 15, which limits the size of networks it can support. RIP periodically broadcasts its entire routing table every 30 seconds, which can lead to slow convergence and increased network traffic. In Cisco environments, RIP is supported for both IPv4 and IPv6 but is generally considered outdated for large or complex enterprise networks. The decision to avoid RIP in large modern enterprise networks stems from its inherent scalability and performance limitations. Its maximum hop count of 15 restricts network diameter, making it unsuitable for extensive topologies. Additionally, RIP’s slow convergence time can cause routing loops and temporary loss of connectivity during topology changes, unlike more advanced protocols such as OSPF or EIGRP that use faster convergence mechanisms and more sophisticated metrics. Cisco’s CCNA curriculum emphasizes that RIP’s simplicity comes at the cost of efficiency and scalability. A common exam trap is confusing RIP’s characteristics with those of link-state protocols or assuming it does not support IPv4. Candidates might incorrectly select options suggesting RIP requires link-state advertisements or is switch-only, which are false. Practically, RIP is still useful in small or simple networks but is rarely deployed in enterprise environments due to these limitations. Understanding RIP’s metric, convergence behavior, and protocol type helps avoid these misconceptions and correctly identify why it is rarely chosen for large networks.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- RIP uses hop count as its routing metric and limits the maximum hop count to 15, restricting network size and scalability.
- RIP periodically broadcasts its entire routing table every 30 seconds, which contributes to slower convergence compared to modern protocols.
- RIP is a distance-vector routing protocol and does not use link-state advertisements like OSPF.
- RIP supports IPv4 routing and can operate on routers, not switches exclusively.
- Slow convergence in RIP can lead to routing loops and temporary network outages during topology changes.
- Modern enterprise networks prefer protocols like OSPF or EIGRP due to their faster convergence and better scalability.
- RIP’s simplicity makes it suitable for small or simple networks but unsuitable for large enterprise environments.
- Understanding RIP’s metric and convergence limitations is critical to distinguishing it from other routing protocols in Cisco exams.
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?
RIP uses hop count as its routing metric and limits the maximum hop count to 15, restricting network size and scalability.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: It scales poorly due to slow convergence and hop-count limitations — RIP is simple but has important scalability limits, including a maximum metric of 15 and relatively slow convergence compared with more modern protocols such as OSPF and 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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