This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of ospf. 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.
In OSPF, which LSA type is used to describe routes to networks within the same area and is generated by the router that owns the network?
Type 1 (Router LSA)
Type 1 LSAs advertise the router's links and are the most basic LSA type.
Type 2 (Network LSA)
Why wrong: Type 2 LSAs are generated by the DR to describe the segment's routers.
Type 3 (Summary LSA)
Why wrong: Type 3 LSAs are generated by ABRs to advertise routes from one area to another.
Type 5 (External LSA)
Why wrong: Type 5 LSAs are generated by ASBRs to advertise external routes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Type 1 (Router LSA)
Type 1 (Router LSA) is correct because each OSPF router generates a Type 1 LSA to describe its directly connected links and networks within the same area. This LSA is flooded only within the originating area and is the fundamental building block for intra-area route calculation using the SPF algorithm.
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.
Type 1 (Router LSA)
Why this is correct
Type 1 LSAs advertise the router's links and are the most basic LSA type.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Type 2 (Network LSA)
Why it's wrong here
Type 2 LSAs are generated by the DR to describe the segment's routers.
Type 3 (Summary LSA)
Why it's wrong here
Type 3 LSAs are generated by ABRs to advertise routes from one area to another.
Type 5 (External LSA)
Why it's wrong here
Type 5 LSAs are generated by ASBRs to advertise external routes.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between the router that originates the LSA (Type 1) versus the DR that generates the LSA for the network segment (Type 2), causing candidates to confuse the 'owner' of the network with the DR's role.
Detailed technical explanation
The Type 1 LSA (Router LSA) contains a list of all directly connected links, each identified by a link type (e.g., point-to-point, transit, stub) and associated metric. The link-state ID is the originating router's Router ID. In multi-access networks, the DR generates a Type 2 LSA to supplement the Type 1 LSAs, ensuring all routers have a complete topology map for loop-free SPF computation.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
OSPF — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
OSPF practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All 350-401 questions
2,015 questions across all exam domains
ENCOR 350-401 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
350-401 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to Architecture.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to Enterprise Network Design.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to SD-Access Architecture.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to SD-WAN Architecture.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to QoS Architecture.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to Virtualization.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to Network Function Virtualization.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to Virtual Machines and Hypervisors.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to VRF and Path Isolation.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to Infrastructure.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to OSPF.
Practise 350-401 questions linked to BGP.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
OSPF — This question tests OSPF — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Type 1 (Router LSA) — Type 1 (Router LSA) is correct because each OSPF router generates a Type 1 LSA to describe its directly connected links and networks within the same area. This LSA is flooded only within the originating area and is the fundamental building block for intra-area route calculation using the SPF algorithm.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.