- A
In the Idle state, BGP is waiting for a start event before initiating a TCP connection.
Correct: Idle is the initial state; BGP does not initiate a TCP connection until a start event (e.g., neighbor configuration) occurs.
- B
In the Active state, BGP is actively trying to establish a TCP connection with the neighbor.
Correct: In Active state, BGP has failed to establish a TCP connection and is actively retrying.
- C
In the Established state, BGP has sent an OPEN message but has not yet received an OPEN message from the peer.
Why wrong: Incorrect: That describes the OpenSent state, not Established. In Established, both OPEN messages have been exchanged and the session is up.
- D
In the OpenSent state, BGP is waiting for the TCP connection to complete.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Waiting for TCP connection completion is the Connect state. OpenSent occurs after the TCP connection is established and an OPEN message has been sent.
- E
In the Connect state, BGP is actively trying to establish a TCP connection.
Why wrong: Incorrect: In Connect state, BGP is waiting for the TCP connection to complete; if it fails, it moves to Active. Active is the state where BGP is actively trying.
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 neighbor states 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
In the Idle state, BGP is waiting for a start event before initiating a TCP connection.
The BGP neighbor state machine includes Idle, Connect, Active, OpenSent, OpenConfirm, and Established. In the Idle state, BGP does not initiate any connection and may be waiting for a start event. In the Active state, BGP is actively trying to establish a TCP connection. In the Established state, BGP has successfully formed a peering session and is exchanging routing updates. The OpenSent state is when BGP has sent an OPEN message and is waiting for an OPEN message from the peer. The Connect state is when BGP is waiting for the TCP connection to complete.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
In the Idle state, BGP is waiting for a start event before initiating a TCP connection.
- ✓
In the Active state, BGP is actively trying to establish a TCP connection with the neighbor.
- ✗
In the Established state, BGP has sent an OPEN message but has not yet received an OPEN message from the peer.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: That describes the OpenSent state, not Established. In Established, both OPEN messages have been exchanged and the session is up.
- ✗
In the OpenSent state, BGP is waiting for the TCP connection to complete.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Waiting for TCP connection completion is the Connect state. OpenSent occurs after the TCP connection is established and an OPEN message has been sent.
- ✗
In the Connect state, BGP is actively trying to establish a TCP connection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
- Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
- OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
- A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
- Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
- Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
- Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 350-401 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
BGP — This question tests BGP — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: In the Idle state, BGP is waiting for a start event before initiating a TCP connection. — The BGP neighbor state machine includes Idle, Connect, Active, OpenSent, OpenConfirm, and Established. In the Idle state, BGP does not initiate any connection and may be waiting for a start event. In the Active state, BGP is actively trying to establish a TCP connection. In the Established state, BGP has successfully formed a peering session and is exchanging routing updates. The OpenSent state is when BGP has sent an OPEN message and is waiting for an OPEN message from the peer. The Connect state is when BGP is waiting for the TCP connection to complete.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 350-401 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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