The answer is BGP for MAC/VPN route advertisement and an overlay tunnel such as VXLAN or MPLS. These two components are essential because EVPN fundamentally relies on BGP as its control plane to distribute MAC and VPN routes across the network, while the overlay tunnel provides the data-plane encapsulation that carries tenant traffic between endpoints. On the Cisco SPCOR 350-501 exam, this question tests your understanding that EVPN decouples the control plane from the data plane, so protocols like OSPF, RSVP-TE, or PIM are not required—a common trap is assuming multicast protocols are mandatory, but EVPN can use ingress replication or ARP suppression instead. A helpful memory tip is to think of EVPN as “BGP brings the map, the tunnel carries the load”—the control plane always needs BGP, and the data plane always needs an overlay encapsulation.
350-501 Architecture Practice Question
This 350-501 practice question tests your understanding of architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which TWO are essential components for deploying EVPN in a service provider network?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Overlay tunnel encapsulation such as VXLAN or MPLS
Options B and E are correct. EVPN uses an overlay tunnel (VXLAN/MPLS) and BGP as control plane. Option A is wrong because OSPF is not used. Option C is wrong because RSVP-TE is not required. Option D is wrong because PIM is for multicast, but EVPN can use other mechanisms.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Overlay tunnel encapsulation such as VXLAN or MPLS
Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
→Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
→Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
→Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 350-501 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
Architecture — This question tests Architecture — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Overlay tunnel encapsulation such as VXLAN or MPLS — Options B and E are correct. EVPN uses an overlay tunnel (VXLAN/MPLS) and BGP as control plane. Option A is wrong because OSPF is not used. Option C is wrong because RSVP-TE is not required. Option D is wrong because PIM is for multicast, but EVPN can use other mechanisms.
What should I do if I get this 350-501 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 350-501 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Question Discussion
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