350-501 MPLS and Segment Routing Practice Question
A service provider is designing a new MPLS core network using Segment Routing with MPLS data plane. They require traffic engineering capabilities to optimize bandwidth utilization. Which technology should be used to compute optimal paths based on IGP link attributes and bandwidth constraints?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that OSPF with MPLS-TE extensions alone provides traffic engineering, but in reality, it only advertises link attributes and requires a separate path computation mechanism like SR-TE or RSVP-TE to enforce TE paths.
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
✓
SR-TE (Segment Routing Traffic Engineering)
SR-TE (Segment Routing Traffic Engineering) is the correct choice because it uses a centralized or distributed controller to compute optimal paths based on IGP link attributes (such as metric, TE metric, affinity) and bandwidth constraints, encoding the path as a segment list in the packet header. Unlike RSVP-TE, SR-TE does not require per-flow state in the core routers, making it more scalable for bandwidth optimization in an MPLS Segment Routing network.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
RSVP-TE with FRR
Why it's wrong here
RSVP-TE can do traffic engineering but is not specific to Segment Routing; the question asks for a technology that works with SR.
- ✗
LDP over SR
Why it's wrong here
LDP is not used for traffic engineering; it distributes labels for IGP shortest paths.
- ✓
SR-TE (Segment Routing Traffic Engineering)
Why this is correct
SR-TE computes paths using segment lists and can enforce bandwidth constraints.
- ✗
OSPF with MPLS-TE extensions
Why it's wrong here
OSPF-TE provides link attributes but does not compute paths; a separate path computation element is needed.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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