- A
AS_PATH is a well-known mandatory attribute.
Correct: AS_PATH is well-known mandatory; it is always included in BGP updates and is used for loop prevention and path selection.
- B
LOCAL_PREF is a well-known discretionary attribute.
Correct: LOCAL_PREF is well-known discretionary; it is recognized by all BGP speakers but may or may not be included in updates, and it influences outbound traffic.
- C
MED is an optional transitive attribute.
Why wrong: Incorrect: MED is optional non-transitive; it is not passed to other ASes and is used to influence inbound traffic.
- D
ORIGIN is a well-known discretionary attribute used for loop prevention.
Why wrong: Incorrect: ORIGIN is well-known mandatory, not discretionary, and it indicates the origin of the route (IGP, EGP, or incomplete), not used for loop prevention.
- E
NEXT_HOP is an optional non-transitive attribute.
Why wrong: Incorrect: NEXT_HOP is well-known mandatory, not optional non-transitive; it specifies the next-hop IP address to reach a prefix.
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.
Which two statements about BGP path attributes are true? (Choose two.)
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
AS_PATH is a well-known mandatory attribute.
The AS_PATH attribute is well-known mandatory and is used for loop prevention and path selection. The LOCAL_PREF attribute is well-known discretionary and is used to influence outbound traffic from an AS. The MED attribute is optional non-transitive and is used to influence inbound traffic. The ORIGIN attribute is well-known mandatory but not used for loop prevention. The NEXT_HOP attribute is well-known mandatory but is not optional.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
AS_PATH is a well-known mandatory attribute.
- ✓
LOCAL_PREF is a well-known discretionary attribute.
- ✗
MED is an optional transitive attribute.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: MED is optional non-transitive; it is not passed to other ASes and is used to influence inbound traffic.
- ✗
ORIGIN is a well-known discretionary attribute used for loop prevention.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: ORIGIN is well-known mandatory, not discretionary, and it indicates the origin of the route (IGP, EGP, or incomplete), not used for loop prevention.
- ✗
NEXT_HOP is an optional non-transitive attribute.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: NEXT_HOP is well-known mandatory, not optional non-transitive; it specifies the next-hop IP address to reach a prefix.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
BGP — This question tests BGP — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AS_PATH is a well-known mandatory attribute. — The AS_PATH attribute is well-known mandatory and is used for loop prevention and path selection. The LOCAL_PREF attribute is well-known discretionary and is used to influence outbound traffic from an AS. The MED attribute is optional non-transitive and is used to influence inbound traffic. The ORIGIN attribute is well-known mandatory but not used for loop prevention. The NEXT_HOP attribute is well-known mandatory but is not optional.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 350-401 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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