The correct answer is to set the OSPF priority to 0 on the interface. This configuration works because, per RFC 2328, a router with an OSPF interface priority of 0 is ineligible to participate in the DR/BDR election process, meaning it will never become the Designated Router or Backup Designated Router on a multi-access segment, yet it still forms full adjacencies with the elected DR and BDR. On the Cisco DCCOR and CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this concept tests your understanding of OSPF election mechanics in a Nexus data center environment, where controlling DR placement is critical for traffic engineering. 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 equals zero chance of being a DR or BDR."
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 Cisco Nexus switch for a data center network. The requirement is to ensure that the switch does not become the Designated Router (DR) on a multi-access segment. Which OSPF configuration achieves this?
Why wrong: Priority 255 increases the chance of becoming DR.
B
Set OSPF priority to 0 on the interface
Priority 0 means the router will never become DR or BDR.
C
Change the OSPF network type to point-to-point
Why wrong: Point-to-point network type eliminates DR election, but it changes the behavior for all routers; the question asks specifically to prevent this switch from becoming DR.
D
Configure the interface as passive under OSPF
Why wrong: Passive interface suppresses OSPF hellos, so no adjacency is formed; it does not prevent DR election if hellos are sent.
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 interface
Setting the OSPF priority to 0 on the interface prevents the switch from participating in the DR/BDR election process, ensuring it will never become the Designated Router (DR) or Backup Designated Router (BDR) on a multi-access segment. This is the standard method per RFC 2328 to make a router ineligible for DR/BDR status while still allowing it to form full adjacencies with the DR and BDR.
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.
✗
Set OSPF priority to 255 on the interface
Why it's wrong here
Priority 255 increases the chance of becoming DR.
✓
Set OSPF priority to 0 on the interface
Why this is correct
Priority 0 means the router will never become DR or BDR.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Change the OSPF network type to point-to-point
Why it's wrong here
Point-to-point network type eliminates DR election, but it changes the behavior for all routers; the question asks specifically to prevent this switch from becoming DR.
✗
Configure the interface as passive under OSPF
Why it's wrong here
Passive interface suppresses OSPF hellos, so no adjacency is formed; it does not prevent DR election if hellos are sent.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that setting a high priority (like 255) ensures a router does not become DR, when in fact it does the opposite; the trap here is confusing priority 0 (ineligible) with priority 255 (most likely to be elected).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In OSPF, the DR/BDR election is based on the highest OSPF interface priority (range 0-255), with the router ID used as a tiebreaker. A priority of 0 explicitly marks the router as ineligible for election, but it still listens to hellos and forms full adjacencies with the DR and BDR. In real-world data center designs, this is often used on spine switches to ensure they do not become DR, allowing leaf switches to handle the role for optimal traffic flow.
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 interface — Setting the OSPF priority to 0 on the interface prevents the switch from participating in the DR/BDR election process, ensuring it will never become the Designated Router (DR) or Backup Designated Router (BDR) on a multi-access segment. This is the standard method per RFC 2328 to make a router ineligible for DR/BDR status while still allowing it to form full adjacencies with the DR and BDR.
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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