The correct answer is to configure send-community extended on the VPNv4 neighbor statement. This is necessary because BGP community propagation in an MPLS VPN relies on the PE router explicitly instructing its BGP session to carry community attributes; without the `send-community extended` command on the VPNv4 address-family neighbor, the PE will strip standard communities like NO_EXPORT from incoming CE updates, preventing them from being passed across the MPLS core to the remote PE. On the Cisco SPCOR 350-501 exam, this topic tests your understanding of how BGP community attributes interact with MPLS VPN architectures, often appearing in a multiple-choice question where a common trap is to confuse the CE-to-PE session with the PE-to-PE session—remember that the CE-to-PE session uses `send-community` (standard), while the VPNv4 session between PEs specifically requires `send-community extended` to propagate communities across the service provider backbone. A useful memory tip: think "CE gets standard, PE-to-PE gets extended" to keep the two commands distinct.
350-501 Services Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of services. 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 service provider is configuring BGP community propagation in an MPLS VPN network. Which two actions are necessary to ensure that communities are passed from CE to remote PE?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure send-community on the CE-to-PE BGP session
B is correct because the `send-community` command must be configured on the CE-to-PE BGP session to allow standard BGP communities (e.g., NO_EXPORT) to be propagated from the CE router into the MPLS VPN network. Without this, the PE router will strip communities from incoming BGP updates, preventing them from reaching the remote PE.
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 no bgp default community-mode
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This is not a valid Cisco command.
✓
Configure send-community on the CE-to-PE BGP session
Why this is correct
Correct. This allows communities from the CE to be received by the PE.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Configure send-community extended on the VPNv4 neighbor
Why this is correct
Correct. This enables community propagation across the MPLS VPN core.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure vrf forwarding with route-target both
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Route-target is for MPLS VPN route import/export, not for community propagation.
✗
Configure route-map to filter communities
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A route-map is optional for filtering, not necessary for propagation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between standard and extended communities, leading candidates to forget that `send-community` (for standard) is required on the CE-PE session, while `send-community extended` is only for VPNv4 peers.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. This is not a valid Cisco command.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In MPLS VPNs, BGP communities are carried as transitive path attributes; the PE router must explicitly be configured to send communities to the CE (via `send-community` under the BGP neighbor) and to propagate them across the VPNv4 session (via `send-community extended` under the VPNv4 neighbor). Without both, communities are silently dropped, which can break carrier-of-carriers or inter-AS designs where community-based policies are critical.
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.
Services — This question tests Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure send-community on the CE-to-PE BGP session — B is correct because the `send-community` command must be configured on the CE-to-PE BGP session to allow standard BGP communities (e.g., NO_EXPORT) to be propagated from the CE router into the MPLS VPN network. Without this, the PE router will strip communities from incoming BGP updates, preventing them from reaching the remote PE.
What should I do if I get this 350-501 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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