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350-701 Practice Question: Is configuring OSPF on a Cisco router and needs…
A network engineer is configuring OSPF on a Cisco router and needs to enable authentication between neighbors. The authentication type should be MD5. Which configuration step is required?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between area-level authentication (which defaults to simple) and interface-level MD5 authentication, causing candidates to mistakenly choose 'area 0 authentication' thinking it covers MD5.
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
✓
ip ospf authentication message-digest under the interface
To enable OSPF MD5 authentication on a Cisco router, the 'ip ospf authentication message-digest' command must be applied under the specific interface. This command tells OSPF to use MD5 (message-digest) authentication for that interface, and it must be paired with an 'ip ospf message-digest-key' command to define the actual key. The authentication type is configured at the interface level, not globally under the OSPF routing process.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ospf authentication-key under router ospf
Why it's wrong here
The authentication-key command is used in interface mode, not router mode in modern IOS.
- ✓
ip ospf authentication message-digest under the interface
Why this is correct
This interface command enables MD5 authentication.
- ✗
area 0 authentication command in router configuration
Why it's wrong here
This command enables authentication for the area but does not specify the key; the interface command is still needed.
- ✗
ip ospf authentication null
Why it's wrong here
This disables authentication.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-701 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 350-701 exam.