350-501 Networking Practice Question
A service provider is deploying BGP PIC (Prefix Independent Convergence) to improve convergence after a link failure. Which mechanism does BGP PIC leverage to achieve fast failover?
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
✓
It pre-installs a backup path in the routing table and forwarding plane.
BGP PIC uses backup paths that are pre-installed in the RIB/FIB. When the primary path fails, traffic is immediately switched to the backup path without waiting for BGP re-convergence.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It decreases the BGP update timer to propagate withdrawals faster.
Why it's wrong here
That is not the mechanism for PIC.
- ✗
It reduces the BGP hold timer to detect failures faster.
Why it's wrong here
Hold timer reduction is not the core of PIC; PIC uses pre-computed backups.
- ✗
It uses BFD to detect failures and triggers BGP to recompute routes immediately.
Why it's wrong here
BFD provides fast failure detection, but PIC relies on pre-installed backups.
- ✓
It pre-installs a backup path in the routing table and forwarding plane.
Why this is correct
Correct. BGP PIC pre-installs backup paths for prefix-independent convergence.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-501 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 350-501 exam.