This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of network function virtualization. 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.
What is the maximum hop count for EIGRP?
100
Correct. The default maximum hop count for EIGRP is 100.
15
Why wrong: Incorrect. 15 is the maximum hop count for RIP, not EIGRP.
255
Why wrong: Incorrect. 255 is the maximum configurable hop count, but the default is 100.
16
Why wrong: Incorrect. 16 is the infinity metric for RIP, not EIGRP's hop count.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
100
EIGRP uses a maximum hop count of 100 by default to prevent routing loops. This is a hard limit; if a route's hop count exceeds 100, EIGRP considers it unreachable. This value is configurable via the 'metric maximum-hops' command under the EIGRP process.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
100
Why this is correct
Correct. The default maximum hop count for EIGRP is 100.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
15
255
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 255 is the maximum configurable hop count, but the default is 100.
16
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the EIGRP hop count limit of 100 to trap candidates who confuse it with RIP's 15-hop limit or OSPF's 255-hop limit, especially when the question omits the protocol name in the stem.
Detailed technical explanation
EIGRP's hop count is a secondary metric used only as a loop-prevention mechanism; the primary metric is a composite of bandwidth, delay, load, and reliability. In large-scale networks, the default hop count of 100 can be increased to support deeper topologies, but doing so risks routing loops if not carefully managed. The hop count is carried in the EIGRP packet's TLV and is checked against the configured maximum before a route is installed in the routing table.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Network Function Virtualization — This question tests Network Function Virtualization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 100 — EIGRP uses a maximum hop count of 100 by default to prevent routing loops. This is a hard limit; if a route's hop count exceeds 100, EIGRP considers it unreachable. This value is configurable via the 'metric maximum-hops' command under the EIGRP process.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This 350-401 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-401 exam.
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