The answer is to enable preemption on RSVP-TE LSPs with appropriate priority levels. This directly addresses RSVP-TE preemption resource contention by allowing higher-priority LSPs to forcibly tear down lower-priority LSPs, reclaiming the bandwidth needed for establishment without requiring a full network redesign. The mechanism relies on setup and hold priorities defined in RFC 3209, where an LSP with a numerically lower setup priority can preempt one with a higher value, effectively resolving contention at the signaling level. On the Cisco SPCOR 350-501 exam, this concept tests your understanding of MPLS-TE resource management under congestion, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a candidate must choose between preemption, path reoptimization, or manual bandwidth overprovisioning. A common trap is confusing preemption with simple path recalculation—preemption actively removes existing LSPs, while recalculation only reroutes new ones. Memory tip: think "lower number wins" for priority—a setup priority of 0 can always bump a hold priority of 7.
350-501 MPLS and Segment Routing Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of mpls and segment routing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 deploying MPLS-TE with RSVP-TE in their core network. They notice that some LSPs are not being established due to resource contention. Which action would best address this issue without redesigning the entire traffic engineering deployment?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable preemption on RSVP-TE LSPs with appropriate priority levels.
Enabling preemption on RSVP-TE LSPs with appropriate setup and hold priorities allows higher-priority LSPs to tear down lower-priority LSPs to free up bandwidth, resolving resource contention without redesigning the entire TE deployment. This is the standard mechanism defined in RFC 3209 for managing bandwidth contention in MPLS-TE networks.
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.
✓
Enable preemption on RSVP-TE LSPs with appropriate priority levels.
Why this is correct
Preemption allows higher-priority LSPs to take resources from lower-priority ones, resolving contention dynamically.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the bandwidth of all core links.
Why it's wrong here
While increasing bandwidth may alleviate congestion, it does not address the root cause of resource contention and is a costly redesign.
✗
Configure LSP path-option explicit paths with strict hops.
Why it's wrong here
Strict explicit paths may avoid certain links but do not solve resource contention; they may even worsen it by restricting path choices.
✗
Disable RSVP-TE and use LDP for label distribution.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling RSVP-TE removes traffic engineering capabilities, which is not a solution to contention.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that explicit path configuration or bandwidth upgrades are the primary solutions for resource contention, when in fact preemption priorities are the designed mechanism for dynamic contention resolution in RSVP-TE.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Preemption in RSVP-TE uses two priority values: setup priority (0-7, lower is higher) and hold priority (0-7, lower is higher). An LSP with a lower setup priority can preempt an LSP with a higher hold priority, allowing critical traffic to claim resources. In real-world deployments, preemption is often used to ensure that voice or video LSPs can bump best-effort LSPs during congestion, without manual intervention.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
MPLS and Segment Routing — This question tests MPLS and Segment Routing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable preemption on RSVP-TE LSPs with appropriate priority levels. — Enabling preemption on RSVP-TE LSPs with appropriate setup and hold priorities allows higher-priority LSPs to tear down lower-priority LSPs to free up bandwidth, resolving resource contention without redesigning the entire TE deployment. This is the standard mechanism defined in RFC 3209 for managing bandwidth contention in MPLS-TE networks.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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