- A
Set a higher local preference on R1 for the default route learned from ISP1.
Correct because local preference influences outbound path selection within the AS; a higher value makes the route more preferred.
- B
Set a lower MED on R1 for the default route learned from ISP1.
Why wrong: Incorrect because MED is used to influence inbound traffic from neighboring ASes, not outbound traffic from within the AS.
- C
Prepend AS 65000 multiple times on R2's updates to ISP2.
Why wrong: Incorrect because AS_PATH prepending affects inbound traffic from ISP2, not outbound traffic from the enterprise.
- D
Configure a community on R1 to mark the default route as no-export.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the no-export community prevents the route from being advertised to eBGP peers, but does not influence outbound path selection within the AS.
CCNP BGP Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of bgp. 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.
An enterprise network has two routers, R1 and R2, both running BGP. R1 is an eBGP speaker with ISP1, and R2 is an eBGP speaker with ISP2. Both routers are in the same AS 65000. The engineer wants to ensure that traffic from the enterprise to the Internet prefers the path through ISP1 when both links are up. R1 learns a default route from ISP1, and R2 learns a default route from ISP2. Which BGP attribute should the engineer modify on R1 to influence outbound traffic selection?
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
Set a higher local preference on R1 for the default route learned from ISP1.
Local preference is the BGP attribute used to influence outbound traffic from an AS. It is propagated within the AS and a higher value is preferred. By setting a higher local preference on R1 for the default route learned from ISP1, R1 will prefer that route over the default route from ISP2, ensuring traffic from the enterprise to the Internet exits via ISP1.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Set a higher local preference on R1 for the default route learned from ISP1.
Why this is correct
Correct because local preference influences outbound path selection within the AS; a higher value makes the route more preferred.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set a lower MED on R1 for the default route learned from ISP1.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because MED is used to influence inbound traffic from neighboring ASes, not outbound traffic from within the AS.
- ✗
Prepend AS 65000 multiple times on R2's updates to ISP2.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because AS_PATH prepending affects inbound traffic from ISP2, not outbound traffic from the enterprise.
- ✗
Configure a community on R1 to mark the default route as no-export.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the no-export community prevents the route from being advertised to eBGP peers, but does not influence outbound path selection within the AS.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between attributes that influence outbound traffic (local preference, weight) versus inbound traffic (MED, AS path prepending), and the trap here is confusing MED or AS path prepending as tools for outbound path selection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Local preference is a well-known mandatory BGP attribute that is exchanged only within the same AS (iBGP peers). The default local preference is 100; setting it to, for example, 150 on R1 for the default route from ISP1 makes that route more preferred than the default from ISP2 (which retains the default 100). This attribute is not advertised to eBGP peers, so it only affects path selection within AS 65000. In a real-world scenario, if both routers receive the same default route, local preference ensures deterministic outbound path selection without manipulating the AS_PATH or MED.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
BGP — This question tests BGP — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set a higher local preference on R1 for the default route learned from ISP1. — Local preference is the BGP attribute used to influence outbound traffic from an AS. It is propagated within the AS and a higher value is preferred. By setting a higher local preference on R1 for the default route learned from ISP1, R1 will prefer that route over the default route from ISP2, ensuring traffic from the enterprise to the Internet exits via ISP1.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 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 24, 2026
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