The answer is to set the OSPF priority to 0 on the spine interfaces. This configuration prevents the spine from becoming DR by making it ineligible to participate in the Designated Router or Backup Designated Router election process on any multi-access VLAN segment. In a VXLAN fabric, spine switches should never act as the DR because they are not the Layer 2 gateway for endpoints; setting priority 0 ensures they remain purely as routing transit nodes. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this concept tests your understanding of OSPF network types and DR election suppression in a data center spine-leaf topology. A common trap is confusing priority 0 with simply lowering the priority value—only a value of 0 guarantees non-participation, while any non-zero value still allows election. Remember the memory tip: “Zero is a hero—it keeps the spine out of the DR show.”
350-601 Network Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of network. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A network engineer is configuring OSPF on a pair of Nexus 9000 switches acting as spine switches in a VXLAN fabric. The engineer needs to ensure that the spine switches do not become the DR for any VLAN. Which configuration should be applied?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set ospf priority to 0 on the spine interfaces.
Setting the OSPF priority to 0 on the spine interfaces prevents the spine switches from participating in the DR/BDR election process, ensuring they never become the Designated Router (DR) for any VLAN. This is the standard method to suppress DR election on a multi-access network segment.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Configure passive-interface default under OSPF.
Why it's wrong here
Passive interface suppresses OSPF adjacencies, not DR election.
✗
Set ospf network type to point-to-multipoint.
Why it's wrong here
Point-to-multipoint still elects DRs in some scenarios.
✓
Set ospf priority to 0 on the spine interfaces.
Why this is correct
OSPF priority 0 prevents the router from participating in DR/BDR election.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set ospf priority to 255 on the spine interfaces.
Why it's wrong here
Priority 255 increases the chance of becoming DR.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that setting OSPF priority to 0 disables OSPF on the interface entirely, when in fact it only prevents DR/BDR election while still allowing neighbor adjacency formation.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Point-to-multipoint still elects DRs in some scenarios.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In OSPF, the DR/BDR election is based on the highest OSPF priority (range 0–255), with a priority of 0 meaning the router will never be elected as DR or BDR. On Nexus 9000 switches in a VXLAN fabric, spine switches typically use point-to-point links to leaf switches, but if the network type is broadcast (default), DR election can occur; setting priority to 0 on spine interfaces ensures they remain passive in the election while still forming full adjacencies with leaf switches.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Network — This question tests Network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set ospf priority to 0 on the spine interfaces. — Setting the OSPF priority to 0 on the spine interfaces prevents the spine switches from participating in the DR/BDR election process, ensuring they never become the Designated Router (DR) for any VLAN. This is the standard method to suppress DR election on a multi-access network segment.
What should I do if I get this 350-601 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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