The correct answer is that EIGRP will use up to 50% of the interface bandwidth for its control traffic. This command applies a percentage limit to the interface’s configured bandwidth value, not the actual physical link speed, so EIGRP’s hello, update, query, and reply packets are throttled to prevent them from starving other data flows. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this tests your understanding of EIGRP’s bandwidth management and the distinction between the `bandwidth` interface parameter and real-world throughput—a common trap is assuming the percentage applies to the physical link rather than the configured bandwidth. Remember that EIGRP defaults to using 50% of the configured bandwidth, so the command `ip bandwidth-percent eigrp 100 50` explicitly sets the same default, making it a trick question where the percentage matches the default behavior. A useful memory tip: “EIGRP’s percent is always off the configured bandwidth, not the wire speed.”
CCNP EIGRP Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of eigrp. 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.
Examine the following EIGRP configuration snippet:
interface GigabitEthernet0/0
ip bandwidth-percent eigrp 100 50
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
EIGRP will use up to 50% of the interface bandwidth for its control traffic.
The `ip bandwidth-percent eigrp 100 50` command configures EIGRP to use up to 50% of the interface's configured bandwidth for its control traffic (hello, update, query, and reply packets). This limits the amount of bandwidth EIGRP can consume to prevent it from starving other traffic. The percentage is applied to the interface's `bandwidth` setting, not the actual physical link speed.
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.
✓
EIGRP will use up to 50% of the interface bandwidth for its control traffic.
Why this is correct
Correct. This command limits EIGRP's bandwidth usage to 50% of the interface's configured bandwidth.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
EIGRP will only advertise routes that have a metric within 50% of the best path.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This command does not affect route selection; it only controls bandwidth usage for EIGRP packets.
✗
EIGRP will use 50% of the interface bandwidth for data traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This command specifically controls EIGRP control traffic, not data traffic.
✗
EIGRP will reduce its hello interval by 50%.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The command does not affect hello intervals.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that `ip bandwidth-percent eigrp` controls data traffic or route selection, when in fact it only limits EIGRP's own control plane bandwidth usage.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. This command does not affect route selection; it only controls bandwidth usage for EIGRP packets.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, EIGRP uses a token bucket mechanism to rate-limit its control packets based on the configured bandwidth-percent. The default is 50% of the interface bandwidth, so this command explicitly sets it to 50% (which is actually the default). In real-world scenarios, if the interface bandwidth is misconfigured (e.g., set to 100 Mbps on a 1 Gbps link), EIGRP might throttle its updates unnecessarily, causing slow convergence. This command is often used to reduce EIGRP's impact on low-bandwidth links like T1 or DSL.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
EIGRP — This question tests EIGRP — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: EIGRP will use up to 50% of the interface bandwidth for its control traffic. — The `ip bandwidth-percent eigrp 100 50` command configures EIGRP to use up to 50% of the interface's configured bandwidth for its control traffic (hello, update, query, and reply packets). This limits the amount of bandwidth EIGRP can consume to prevent it from starving other traffic. The percentage is applied to the interface's `bandwidth` setting, not the actual physical link speed.
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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Question Discussion
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