This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of virtual machines and hypervisors. 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?
15
Why wrong: Incorrect. 15 is the maximum hop count for RIP.
255
Correct. EIGRP has a maximum hop count of 255.
16
Why wrong: Incorrect. 16 is the infinity metric for RIP.
100
Why wrong: Incorrect. EIGRP does not have a default hop count limit of 100; it is 255.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
255
EIGRP uses a maximum hop count of 255, which is a hard limit encoded in the protocol's metric field. This allows EIGRP to scale to much larger networks than distance-vector protocols like RIP, which have a hop count limit of 15. The hop count is not used as a primary metric in EIGRP but serves as a loop-prevention mechanism, and routes with a hop count exceeding 255 are considered unreachable.
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.
15
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 15 is the maximum hop count for RIP.
255
Why this is correct
Correct. EIGRP has a maximum hop count of 255.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
16
100
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. EIGRP does not have a default hop count limit of 100; it is 255.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the difference between RIP's 15-hop limit and EIGRP's 255-hop limit, and the trap here is that candidates confuse the hop count limit with the administrative distance (100) or the RIP unreachable metric (16).
Detailed technical explanation
EIGRP's hop count is stored in a 1-byte field in the route entry, giving a theoretical maximum of 255. However, in practice, EIGRP uses a composite metric based on bandwidth, delay, load, and reliability, and the hop count is only used as a secondary tiebreaker or to prevent routing loops. A real-world scenario where this matters is in large enterprise networks with multiple redistribution points, where EIGRP can carry routes across many hops without hitting a low limit like RIP's 15.
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
Virtual Machines and Hypervisors — This question tests Virtual Machines and Hypervisors — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 255 — EIGRP uses a maximum hop count of 255, which is a hard limit encoded in the protocol's metric field. This allows EIGRP to scale to much larger networks than distance-vector protocols like RIP, which have a hop count limit of 15. The hop count is not used as a primary metric in EIGRP but serves as a loop-prevention mechanism, and routes with a hop count exceeding 255 are considered unreachable.
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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