- A
Configure 'neighbor next-hop-unchanged' under the BGP address family for the route reflector clients.
Correct because this command explicitly instructs the router to not modify the next-hop attribute when sending routes to the specified neighbor, preserving the original next-hop.
- B
Configure 'no bgp next-hop-self' under the BGP address family for the route reflector clients.
Why wrong: Incorrect because 'no bgp next-hop-self' is not a valid command; the correct command is 'no neighbor next-hop-self', but that only removes the configuration that would set next-hop to self; it does not guarantee the next-hop is unchanged if other mechanisms are in place.
- C
Configure 'bgp route-reflector' under the BGP address family.
Why wrong: Incorrect because 'bgp route-reflector' is not a valid command; the correct command is 'bgp route-reflector' is not used; route reflection is enabled with 'neighbor route-reflector-client'.
- D
Configure 'neighbor next-hop-self' on the route reflector for its clients.
Why wrong: Incorrect because this command would cause the route reflector to set itself as the next-hop, modifying the attribute, which is the opposite of what the engineer wants.
Quick Answer
The correct command is 'neighbor next-hop-unchanged' configured under the BGP address family for the route reflector clients. This command is necessary because, by default, a BGP route reflector may overwrite the next-hop attribute of reflected routes with its own IP address, but this directive explicitly preserves the original next-hop as received from the non-client iBGP peer. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how route reflectors handle attribute propagation in complex iBGP topologies, often appearing in a scenario where clients must retain the original next-hop for optimal path selection or to avoid suboptimal routing. A common trap is confusing this with the 'next-hop-self' command, which does the opposite by forcing the reflector’s address. Remember the mnemonic: “unchanged” means the reflector is a passive mirror, not a path changer.
CCNP BGP Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of bgp. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 engineer is configuring BGP on a router that will act as a route reflector to reduce iBGP peering requirements. The router has several iBGP peers. The engineer wants to ensure that the route reflector does not modify the next-hop attribute of routes it reflects to its clients. Which configuration command should the engineer use?
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
Configure 'neighbor next-hop-unchanged' under the BGP address family for the route reflector clients.
Option A is correct because the 'neighbor next-hop-unchanged' command under the BGP address family instructs the route reflector to preserve the original next-hop attribute when reflecting routes to its clients. By default, a route reflector may modify the next-hop to its own address, but this command overrides that behavior, ensuring the next-hop remains as received from the non-client iBGP peer. This is essential in designs where clients must see the original next-hop for optimal path selection or to avoid unnecessary routing hops.
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.
- ✓
Configure 'neighbor next-hop-unchanged' under the BGP address family for the route reflector clients.
Why this is correct
Correct because this command explicitly instructs the router to not modify the next-hop attribute when sending routes to the specified neighbor, preserving the original next-hop.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure 'no bgp next-hop-self' under the BGP address family for the route reflector clients.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because 'no bgp next-hop-self' is not a valid command; the correct command is 'no neighbor next-hop-self', but that only removes the configuration that would set next-hop to self; it does not guarantee the next-hop is unchanged if other mechanisms are in place.
- ✗
Configure 'bgp route-reflector' under the BGP address family.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because 'bgp route-reflector' is not a valid command; the correct command is 'bgp route-reflector' is not used; route reflection is enabled with 'neighbor route-reflector-client'.
- ✗
Configure 'neighbor next-hop-self' on the route reflector for its clients.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because this command would cause the route reflector to set itself as the next-hop, modifying the attribute, which is the opposite of what the engineer wants.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'neighbor next-hop-unchanged' and 'neighbor next-hop-self', where candidates mistakenly think that disabling 'next-hop-self' (option B) is sufficient to preserve the next-hop, but the correct command is the explicit 'next-hop-unchanged' to override any default or configured modifications.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect because 'no bgp next-hop-self' is not a valid command; the correct command is 'no neighbor next-hop-self', but that only removes the configuration that would set next-hop to self; it does not guarantee the next-hop is unchanged if other mechanisms are in place.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, when a route reflector reflects a route from a non-client to a client, it does not modify the next-hop attribute by default (per RFC 4456), but in some Cisco implementations, the next-hop may be altered if 'next-hop-self' is configured globally or if the route is learned via eBGP. The 'neighbor next-hop-unchanged' command explicitly overrides any such modifications, ensuring the original next-hop is preserved even when the route reflector is also configured with 'next-hop-self' for other peers. In real-world scenarios, this is critical in MPLS L3VPN or inter-AS designs where the next-hop must remain the original PE address to maintain correct label forwarding.
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 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
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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: Configure 'neighbor next-hop-unchanged' under the BGP address family for the route reflector clients. — Option A is correct because the 'neighbor next-hop-unchanged' command under the BGP address family instructs the route reflector to preserve the original next-hop attribute when reflecting routes to its clients. By default, a route reflector may modify the next-hop to its own address, but this command overrides that behavior, ensuring the next-hop remains as received from the non-client iBGP peer. This is essential in designs where clients must see the original next-hop for optimal path selection or to avoid unnecessary routing hops.
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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