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CCNP Practice Question: Drag and drop the steps of OSPF SPF calculation…
Drag and drop the steps of OSPF SPF calculation steps (Dijkstra) into the correct order, from first to last.
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
Initialize candidate list with root router
The Dijkstra SPF algorithm first initializes the candidate list with the root router itself. It then examines the root's neighbors, adding them to the candidate list. The router with the lowest cost is moved from candidate to the SPF tree. The process repeats by examining the newly added router's neighbors and updating the candidate list. Finally, when all routers are in the SPF tree, the algorithm terminates and the routing table is populated.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.