350-501 Networking Practice Question
In an OSPF network, an engineer wants to minimize the size of the routing table in a non-backbone area while still allowing the area to learn external routes from other ASs. Which OSPF area type should be configured?
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
✓
NSSA
A Not-So-Stubby Area (NSSA) allows importing external routes as Type 7 LSAs while still blocking Type 5 LSAs from other areas.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Stub area
Why it's wrong here
Stub area blocks Type 5 LSAs, so no external routes.
- ✗
Totally stubby area
Why it's wrong here
Totally stubby blocks Type 3, 4, 5 LSAs, only default route.
- ✓
NSSA
Why this is correct
NSSA allows external routes via Type 7 LSAs.
- ✗
Backbone area 0
Why it's wrong here
Backbone area 0 is not a stubby area and carries full routes.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 350-501 question from scratch — 971 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.