mediumMultiple Choice
CCNP Practice Question: Runs the following command on Router R9: R9# show…
A network engineer runs the following command on Router R9:
R9# show ip pim neighbor
PIM Neighbor Table
Neighbor Address Interface Uptime Expires Mode 192.168.1.10 GigabitEthernet0/0 1w2d 00:01:30 Dense 192.168.1.11 GigabitEthernet0/0 2w0d 00:01:25 Sparse 192.168.1.12 GigabitEthernet0/1 3d04h 00:01:28 Sparse
Based on this output, what can be concluded?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the ability to read the 'Mode' column accurately and avoid assuming all neighbors share the same mode or interface, as candidates may overlook the 'Dense' entry or misinterpret the 'Expires' timer as a state rather than a countdown.
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
✓
Router R9 has three PIM neighbors, one in Dense mode and two in Sparse mode.
The output shows three PIM neighbors: 192.168.1.10 with mode 'Dense', and 192.168.1.11 and 192.168.1.12 with mode 'Sparse'. This indicates that Router R9 has one neighbor operating in PIM Dense mode and two in PIM Sparse mode, which is consistent with the 'Mode' column in the 'show ip pim neighbor' output.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
All PIM neighbors are operating in Sparse mode.
Why it's wrong here
The output does not support this claim because it explicitly lists one PIM neighbor with a mode of Dense and two with a mode of Sparse. If all neighbors were operating in Sparse mode, none of the Mode fields would read 'Dense'; instead, each would indicate 'Sparse' for its respective interface. Dense mode is a distinct flood-and-prune behavior, and its presence in the neighbor table proves that not all neighbors are in Sparse mode.
- ✓
Router R9 has three PIM neighbors, one in Dense mode and two in Sparse mode.
Why this is correct
This is the correct interpretation of the show ip pim neighbor output. The table lists exactly three PIM neighbors, and the Mode column identifies the first neighbor (192.168.1.11) as Dense while the other two neighbors (192.168.1.12 and 192.168.1.13) are Sparse. Therefore, Router R9 has three PIM neighbors total, with one in Dense mode and two in Sparse mode, accurately reflecting the per-interface PIM mode configuration.
- ✗
The PIM neighbor 192.168.1.12 is on the same interface as the others.
Why it's wrong here
This statement is false because 192.168.1.12 is listed on GigabitEthernet0/1, whereas the other two neighbors (192.168.1.11 and 192.168.1.13) are listed on GigabitEthernet0/0. The output includes an Interface column for each neighbor, and those interface values differ, proving that 192.168.1.12 is not on the same interface as the others. A PIM neighbor table can contain neighbors on multiple interfaces, and here the interface identity is the discriminator.
- ✗
All PIM neighbors are in the 'Expires' state.
Why it's wrong here
The 'Expires' column is a countdown timer showing when the PIM neighbor adjacency will be considered stale or removed, not a state field. Neighbor state is conveyed by the Mode column (Dense/Sparse), while Expires simply displays remaining lifetime in seconds (e.g., 00:01:23). Therefore, saying all neighbors are in an 'Expires' state misinterprets the output, because 'Expires' is not a PIM state but a timer.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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