350-501 MPLS and Segment Routing Practice Question
A service provider is designing a new MPLS core network and wants to simplify traffic engineering without deploying a centralized controller. Which technology should be used to enable source-routed paths with explicit path control?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that RSVP-TE is the only way to achieve explicit path control, but the trap here is that RSVP-TE requires per-flow state and signaling, while Segment Routing provides source-routed paths without a centralized controller or per-node state.
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
✓
Segment Routing (SR-MPLS)
Segment Routing (SR-MPLS) enables source-routed paths with explicit path control by encoding the path as a list of segment identifiers (SIDs) in the packet header, allowing the ingress router to steer traffic along a specific path without a centralized controller. This simplifies traffic engineering in an MPLS core network by eliminating the need for per-flow signaling and state maintenance on intermediate nodes, which is exactly what the question requires.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
BGP-LU
Why it's wrong here
BGP-LU is used for inter-domain label distribution, not for source-routed traffic engineering.
- ✗
LDP
Why it's wrong here
LDP distributes labels for shortest-path forwarding only.
- ✗
RSVP-TE
Why it's wrong here
RSVP-TE requires a centralized controller for path computation.
- ✓
Segment Routing (SR-MPLS)
Why this is correct
SR-MPLS enables source routing with segment lists, supporting traffic engineering without a controller.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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